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Emotional victory Zimbabwean duo brings doubles title back to Africa
NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Wayne Black and Kevin Ullyett became the first all-Zimbabwean team to win a Grand Slam title on Friday when they ousted second seeds Donald Johnson and Jared Palmer 7-6, 2-6, 6-3 in the men's doubles final at the U.S. Open. The victory marks only the seventh time in history that the men's doubles has been won by an All-African duo, the last time being when South Africans Pieter Aldrich and Danie Visser won the 1990 U.S. Open trophy. "For all of Africa, this is a huge thing," said Ullyett, who spent much of his youth living in South Africa. "We always seem to play really good matches in finals. And this match, we played really great." The victory gave the 14th-seeded Black and Ullyett a perfect 3-0 winning record in finals played, having also taken the 2000 Hong Kong title and the 2001 Copenhagen honors. It was Ullyett's first appearance in a Grand Slam final, but Black had competed in the 2000 Australian Open final with Andrew Kratzmann of Australia, losing that match to Ellis Ferreira of South Africa and Rick Leach of the United States. Black became emotional when asked what his father Don, who died last October of cancer having guided his three children into pro tennis careers, would think of his victory. "I know he would be very proud today," Black said. "I wished on the court I had a chance to thank him and dedicate the trophy to my mom because she's had a rough year this year. "I know I couldn't get a Grand Slam title in singles for my dad, but it would put a smile on his face that I did it in doubles." The victory for Black accounts for the second Grand Slam trophy for the Black household -- his older brother Byron won the 1994 French Open trophy with American Jonathan Stark. Younger sister Cara and partner Elena Likhovtseva, the third seeds in the women's doubles, are playing top seeds Lisa Raymond and Rennae Stubbs in the semifinals on Friday. Johnson and Palmer were the first All-American team to reach the U.S. Open final since Ken Flach and Rick Leach won the title in 1993. They are the only men's doubles team to compete in two Grand Slam finals this year, winning the Wimbledon title in July.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
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