Chan Yung-Jan/Chuang Chia-Jung were the No. 1 seeds in the Tier II Los Angeles Open, but it was by no means a smooth path to the title.

They won their first two matches in straight sets but were pushed to the limits by No. 4 seeds Lisa Raymond and Samantha Stosur in the semifinals, winning that in a match tie-break 7-6(3),3-6, 10-7.

There was more resistance in the final from unseeded Czech duo Eva Hrdinova and Vladimira Uhlirova, who went up 6-2, 4-2 before Chan and Chuang kicked into gear for another match tie-break victory at 2-6, 7-5 and 10-4.

"It was a very tough match for us but it was a great experience," Chan said. "Hrdinova's serve is heavy and fast and she serves very well. We were just trying to return her serve and go from there. We didn't sleep enough last night and in the beginning it was tough for us, but after a little while our bodies woke up."

Chan and Chuang took home their second Tour doubles title of the year, following a Tier I triumph at Rome in May.

They have now won seven doubles titles together, with their 2008titles being the biggest.

In the Slovenia Open, Spanish team Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual took the title but followed a different path.

Unlike Chan and Chuang's run in Los Angeles, the Spanish duo were barely tested, not dropping a set in any of their four matches. They clinched the title with a 6-4, 6-1 win over unseeded Russian duo Vera Dushevina and Ekaterina Makarova.

It was their third doubles title of the year, following a Tier IV triumph at Hobart and Grand Slam glory at Roland Garros.

News From ChinaView