Azarenka & Kirilenko's Dreams Come True

New trophies from Madrid went along with new headgear from Disney World after the doubles final.

Published May 07, 2011 12:00

Azarenka & Kirilenko's Dreams Come True
Victoria Azarenka, Maria Kirilenko

MADRID, Spain - Victoria Azarenka and Maria Kirilenko beat the Top 3-seeded teams one after another and came away with the Mutua Madrid Open doubles title - then donned some magical headgear to celebrate.

It wasn't easy from the start for Azarenka and Kirilenko, who had to face recent Miami champions Daniela Hantuchova and Agnieszka Radwanska in the first round. But they got past them, then took out No.1 seeds Gisela Dulko and Flavia Pennetta in the quarterfinals, No.3 seeds Vania King and Yaroslava Shvedova in the semifinals and then No.2 seeds Kveta Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik in Saturday night's final in straight sets, 64 63.

"It was one of the toughest draws we could have had and we're so happy to have come through," Azarenka said after the title match. "It's a great feeling."

Azarenka and Kirilenko won their second WTA title together, their first also coming at a Premier-level tournament, Cincinnati last summer. They were also finalists at this year's Australian Open, leading Dulko and Pennetta 62 41 before falling to the Argentine-Italian combo, 26 75 61. They are the second-most successful team of the year so far (after Peschke and Srebotnik).

"We didn't play many tournaments so far this year so it's difficult to think about Istanbul just yet," Kirilenko said. "We're just going to play and have fun!"

And those hats? "The hats were Maria's idea," Azarenka said. "She went to Disney World after Miami and I asked for some Mickey Mouse ears. She said she would get me something much better... she brought these here and said if we win, we should wear them! It was our decision to wear them if we won.

"It was very good motivation!"

Azarenka won her fifth WTA doubles title while Kirilenko collected her ninth.

Peschke and Srebotnik, who began playing doubles together early in 2010, were playing their 14th WTA final together. They are now 4-10 in finals.

Share this page!

Related news

  • Serena & Vika: The Last Two Standing

    May 18, 2013
    Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka overcame some tricky moments in the semifinals of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia on Saturday and will now meet in a dream final at the Premier event.
  • Azarenka Edges Stosur Under The Lights

    May 17, 2013
    Victoria Azarenka rallied from a second set blowout and a break down in the third to beat Samantha Stosur on Friday night and complete the semifinal line-up at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia.
  • Rome Saturday: Simona's Challenge

    May 17, 2013
    Simona Halep takes on Serena Williams and her 22-match winning streak, looking to become the first Romanian to reach the Rome final since Virginia Ruzici in 1981.
To The Top
3