2009 SUMMARY
WON (6): Bogotá, Acapulco, Barcelona, Palermo, Toronto, New Haven; R-Up (2): Bastad, Cincinnati; SF (3): Sydney, Indian Wells, Rome; QF (7): Australian Open, Miami, Madrid, Wimbledon, US Open, Beijing, Moscow
Llagostera Vives and Martínez Sánchez's Sony Ericsson WTA Tour doubles bio
Although they have played together periodically for quite a few years, this is the first year Nuria Llagostera Vives and María José Martínez Sánchez have played together almost exclusively, and their results have been tremendous.
The Spaniards kicked off their 2009 partnership with a semifinal showing in Syndey and a quarterfinal run at the Australian Open. They captured their first title of the year and second of their career as a duo at their next event in Bogotá and won another the very next week in Acapulco. They then lost in the semifinals of Indian Wells and the quarters of Miami. During the clay court season, they were victorious in Barcelona and made the semis in Rome before losing in the first round of Roland Garros, their first early round exit of the season.
Llagostera Vives and Martínez Sánchez rebounded to make the quarters of Wimbledon and the final in Bastad before taking their fourth title of the season in Palermo. They started the summer hardcourt season with a runner-up showing in Cincinnati. They followed that with a victory in Toronto and the very next week their Tour-best sixth title of the season in New Haven. They then made the quarters of the US Open, before bowing out early in Tokyo and falling in the quarters in Beijing.
Photo Gallery: Llagostera Vives and Martínez Sánchez's 2009 season
Llagostera Vives and Martínez Sánchez, who were the third duo to qualify for Doha, have never played in the Tour Championships.
"It's been a great season for us," Llagostera Vives said. "We are very proud of the level of tennis we've played as a team all season and are thrilled to be going to the Sony Ericsson Championships for the first time in our career."
