British No. 1 Jordanne Whiley and Japan’s Yui Kamiji reached their second Grand Slam women’s doubles final of 2014 on the second day of play at Roland Garros after securing a straight sets win over Germany’s Sabine Ellerbrock and Kgothatso Montane of South Africa.
Whiley and Kamiji, the Australian Open champions have plenty of experience against Ellerbrock and Montjane, having played them twice en route to winning the Doubles Masters title in November 2013 and beaten them once more in the semi-finals at Melbourne Park in January.
The second seeds had to dig deep in Paris after falling 5-2 behind, but fought back to take the opening set of their semi-final to a tie-break. Whiley and Kamiji were against up against it in the tie-break as they faced four set points at 6-2 down, but they kept their composure to snatch the set before completing a 7-6(3), 6-3 victory that earns them a place in Friday’s final against Dutch top seeds Jiske Griffioen and Aniek van Koot, the winners of all four Grand Slam doubles title in 2013.
“It didn't exactly go how I planned it, but we got the job done in the end with some patient and smart tennis and I'm very pleased we came through it. We’re very excited to have the chance to try for a second Grand Slam title,” said Whiley.
Earlier in the day Gordon Reid saw his Roland Garros challenge come to an end against French world No. 2 and defending champion Stephane Houdet. Houdet, the 2012 and 2013 champion in Paris, was in impressive form in the opening set and although Reid made a fine attempt at staging a comeback in the second set Houdet closed out a 6-4, 6-0 win.
“It’s not the way I would have wanted to things to happen, but I fought until the last point. There’s plenty of motivation to improve,” said Reid.
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