Doubles wrap: Top seeds Olmos/ Shibahara face American duo Collins/ Krawczyk for title
Ena Shibahara (L) and Giuliana Olmos. (Photo: Chris Smith/Charleston Tennis)
No one does doubles quite like Charleston.
Crowds have flocked to every match court around the grounds this week at the Credit One Charleston Open as 16 teams have battled to hoist the trophy today.
The championship match is one that encapsulates the draw well: A top seed against an unseeded duo. The favorites vs. the challengers.
No. 1 seeds Giuliana Olmos of Mexico and Japan’s Ena Shibahara will take on the American team of Danielle Collins and Desirae Krawczyk, the surprise Wimbledon semifinalists from last year.
“I always play with my friends,” Collins told The Tennis Tribe in a podcast interview this week. “I really enjoy the doubles a lot. For me, the most fun memories are on the doubles court.”
The memories indeed have been fun on court, including the American team’s upset of No. 2 seeds Kristina Mladenovic (a former two-time champion here) and Zhang Shuai in the quarterfinals. They then came through a three-set semifinal over Laura Siegemund and Vera Zvonareva, marking all three of their victories here won via match tiebreak.
Oppositely, Olmos/Shibahara have been dominant, not dropping a set and fending off No. 3 seeds Caroline Dolehide and Storm Hunter in the semis, 7-6(4) 6-4.
All four players are looking for their first-ever title in Charleston – and will be plenty familiar with one another: Olmos, Shibahara and Krawczyk play as doubles specialists, while Olmos and Krawcyzk teamed up earlier this year in Abu Dhabi.
The doubles final will be 🔥
American duo Danielle Collins/Desirae Crawczyk will take on top seeds Giuliana Olmos/Ena Shibahara tomorrow!#CharlestonOpen pic.twitter.com/gps19KoZ2z
— Credit One Charleston Open (@CharlestonOpen) April 8, 2023
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