By Erik Gudris
Vera Zvonareva is a US Open finalist again.
A decade after contesting the US Open singles final, the 36-year-old Russian and partner Laura Siegemund booked a spot in the US Open women’s doubles finals.
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Zvonareva and Siegemund scored a 5-7, 6-3, 7-5 semifinal victory over Anna Blinkova and Veronica Kudermetova.
In 2010, Zvonareva lost in the US Open women’s singles finals to defending champion Kim Clijsters. The former world No. 2 also reached the Wimbledon final in that year, losing to champion Serena Williams.
Zvonareva left tennis in 2015 after getting married and having a baby daughter. She returned to tennis two years later.
A day after celebrating her 36th birthday, Zvonareva continues the surge of mothers advancing at this year’s event. Victoria Azarenka, Tsvetana Pironkova, and Serena Williams are all still alive in the singles draw.
Siegemund and Zvonareva entered the doubles tournament as a unseeded team. They upset defending champions and No. 2 seeds Elise Mertens and Aryna Sabalenka en route to the semifinals.
“Of course I miss home and it’s little bit more challenging than before because I want to spend as much time with my family, my daughter, but I’m still enjoying being here.” Zvonareva said after the win about competing inside the US Open “bubble”. “I’m still enjoying the competition. I think that’s what counts the most.”
Zvonareva owns two previous US Open doubles titles. In 2004, she won the mixed doubles title with Bob Bryan. In 2006, she won the women’s doubles title with Natalie Dechy of France.
Siegemund and Zvonareva await the winners of the next semifinal between the teams of Asia Muhammad and Taylor Townsend and No. 3 seed Nicole Melichar and Yifan Xu.
Photo credit: @USOpen