This was Martínez Sánchez’s third singles title on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, and first at the Premier level. The lefthander’s previous two wins were also wrought on clay, at International-level Bogotá and Bastad in 2009.
She is now 3-1 in Tour singles finals, having been runner-up at 2008 Barcelona.
“This is a very important moment and I have worked so hard to get so far,” Martinez Sanchez said. “Even if this is a moment that will go down in history, it has not sunk in yet.”
Although she lost in the final, Jankovic pulled off the rare feat of beating both Williams sisters in one event – Venus Williams in the quarterfinals and Serena Williams in the semifinals, saving match point. It was just the eighth time, and first on clay, that anyone had beaten both sisters at the same event. Others to have done it are Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario, Steffi Graf, Martina Hingis, Kim Clijsters (twice), Lindsay Davenport and Justine Henin.
Gisela Dulko and Flavia Pennetta won their second title in two weeks, and third of the season by beating Llagostera Vives/Martínez Sánchez 6-4, 6-2. Last week they triumphed at Stuttgart, and earlier in the year at Miami.
