LONDON, UK - Just like in the singles draw, the Top 4 seeds will contest the semifinals in doubles at the All-England Club. However, none of the winning teams had an easy time of it in Wednesday's quarterfinals.
Cara Black and Liezel Huber, co-ranked No.1 in the world and the No.1 seeds, raised their record against 11th-seeded Spaniards Nuria Llagostera Vives and María José Martínez Sánchez to 4-0 with a 46 63 60 victory. The No.1 seeds are looking for their fifth Grand Slam, third Wimbledon and 27th Sony Ericsson WTA Tour title together, but will certainly have their hands full in the next round with Serena and Venus Williams. In the eyes of many, the match-up will decide which duo is the best in the world, regardless of ranking.
The fourth-seeded sisters, who have never played Black and Huber, were tested but got by No.12 seeds Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Vania King, 62 75. They are seeking their fourth Wimbledon doubles title and eighth Grand Slam.
On the bottom half of the draw, second-seeded Spaniards Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual edged unseeded Russians Alisa Kleybanova and Ekaterina Makarova, 64 75. Next up for the two-time defending Roland Garros champions are Australians Samantha Stosur and Rennae Stubbs. The No.3 seeds, who are seeking their first title of any kind together, outlasted unseeded Kristina Barrois and Tathiana Garbin, 16 63 64. In the only previous encounter between the semifinalists, Medina Garrigues and Ruano Pascual prevailed in last year's Beijing Olympics en route to a silver medal.
