Spaniards Make Noise In Marbella

Nuria Llagostera Vives and Arantxa Parra Santonja rallied in the final for their first title together in almost four years.

Published April 10, 2011 04:20

Spaniards Make Noise In Marbella
Nuria Llagostera Vives, Arantxa Parra Santonja

MARBELLA, Spain - Having already played with four different partners in 2011, Nuria Llagostera Vives has found a winning combination, notching her 14th career doubles title but first since February of last year with a victory in Marbella alongside Arantxa Parra Santonja.

Llagostera Vives and Parra Santonja's history together goes all the way back to the 2004 US Open. They have paired up on and off since then, with their only title before this week coming at Barcelona in 2007.

Read about this week's other doubles event in Charleston.

It was not an easy road to the Andalucía Tennis Experience title for the Spaniards, as they were extended to a match tie-break in the first round and again in the final against No.1 seeds Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci. In fact, on Sunday against the Italians, Llagostera Vives and Parra Santonja trailed, 63 30, before staging a comeback and winning, 36 64 105.

"It was a great effort coming back from 3-0 down in the second set. We changed our attitude," said Parra Santonja, whose fourth career doubles title was her first since Barcelona in 2008. "This tournament is incredible. Hopefully we have more like this in Spain."

"We didn't start as well as we thought we could, but we started to support each other and play with heart," Llagostera Vives said. "This is our third time playing together this year and we're feeling more and more comfortable now. We're improving a lot in every match."

Llagostera Vives and Parra Santonja's other results this year were a first round loss in Indian Wells and a quarterfinal showing in Miami.

Share this page!

Related news

  • Madrid Monday: Vika Back On The Clay

    May 05, 2013
    Victoria Azarenka makes her 2013 clay court debut, and Maria Sharapova puts her clay court win streak on the line at the Mutua Madrid Open.
  • Suárez Navarro's Revenge In Oeiras

    May 03, 2013
    Carla Suárez Navarro beat Kaia Kanepi in the semis of the Portugal Open on Friday, avenging a heartbreaking loss in last year's final. Could it be fifth time lucky for the Spaniard now?
  • Another Shot For Suárez Navarro

    March 01, 2013
    Carla Suárez Navarro stormed past Sílvia Soler-Espinosa in the semifinals of the Abierto Mexicano TELCEL on Friday and will now go for her first WTA title - but Sara Errani stands in the way.
To The Top
3