Black/Huber Defend Doubles Crown

DOHA, Qatar - Cara Black and Liezel Huber qualified for the Sony Ericsson Championships - Doha 2008 doubles event months before any of the other teams, and in the heat of battle they seemed to be even further ahead of their competition, cruising through both of their matches at the season-ending event to take home the title. Seeded No.1, they first crushed Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual in the semifinals, 61 63, then in the final they beat Kveta Peschke and Rennae Stubbs in a slightly closer straight-setter, 61 75.

"Even though the score seemed easy in the first set, it was just one or two points' difference, and it could have been much tighter," Huber said. "They definitely played stronger in the second set. Every time we go out there we expect the best from the other team, and they really did play a great match today."

It was Black and Huber's 10th title of the season and second-biggest, after they won their fourth Grand Slam title together at the US Open. In 2007 they won nine titles together, including this very tournament, which was held in Madrid.

"It's even more special because it's not in Madrid again, it's in Doha; so here we are, winning the same event but in different conditions," Huber added. "I love Doha. We feel very comfortable here. We've had such a great week, a lovely time, and I'd like to come back here for a vacation. They made us feel very special here this week. We're going back home with very sore hearts today."