Top seeds Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza have suffered their first loss since August after losing 2-6, 6-4,10-5, to unseeded Russian duo Elena Vesnina and Daria Kasatkina.
The top doubles team was on a 41-winning streak prior to their quarterfinal encounter at the Doha Open. Since their last loss at the Cincinnati Open, the Swiss-Indian team have won nine titles, including two Grand Slam titles and the WTA Finals.
The shock win by the Russian pair was a sharp contrast to their previous encounter earlier this month. At the St. Petersburg Open Hingis and Mirza defeated them 6-1, 6-4. Speaking about their impressive win over the top seeds, Vesnina spoke of her delight.
“That was an amazing match for us,” Vesnina was quoted as saying by the WTA Tour.
“We played against them just a week ago, and they’re one of the greatest doubles teams we have in women’s tennis. I think everything worked today for us to win, and we’re just so excited about it.”
The win was especially impressive for 18-year-old Kasatkina, who was playing in only the third WTA Tour doubles tournament of her career. In her WTA Tour double debut at the Moscow Open last year, she won the title alongside Vesnina.
“It’s unbelievable for me,” Kasatkina said.
“Something huge because it’s just my third WTA doubles tournament and we beat Sania and Martina. For me, it’s something unbelievable.”
Hingis and Mirza had been just three matches away from equalling Natasha Zvereva and Jana Novotna’s 1990 run of 44 consecutive doubles wins. The record is currently held by tennis greats Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver. The American duo won 109 consecutive matches between 1983-1985.
Vesnina and Kasatkina will play fourth seeds Chan Yung-Jan and Chan Hao-Ching in the semifinals. In the other semifinal, Carla Suarez Navarro and former double world No.1 Sara Errani will play Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez and Gabriella Dabroski. Suarez Navarro is the only player this year to reach the semifinals in both the singles and doubles draw.
.@EVesnina001 & @DKasatkina snap Hingis & Mirza’s 41 match win streak!
SHOCK the World No.1s 2-6, 6-4, 10-5! #WTA https://t.co/4WHQsSKiMa
— WTA (@WTA) 25 February 2016
