DUBAI // Finding success in both the singles and doubles at the same time these days is such a rarity, and the reasons are probably not so difficult to understand.
Physically, it can be really demanding, if not impossible.
But Sara Errani is one of those rare breeds who loves testing her endurance limits on the courts and loves both formats of the game.
“I think the doubles is really fun,” she said on Friday, after missing out on another chance to play both the singles and doubles final at a tournament. “Of course, physically it can be tough, but if I am playing the doubles, I will never choose not to play because I’m still in the singles.
“If I decide to play, I play 100 per cent both. I don’t care if I have to play a singles final tomorrow and I stay two hours on court for doubles. I love doubles and have fun playing it.”
That love for the doubles was evident as Errani returned to the courts on Friday, an hour and a half after her 6-4, 6-4 win over Elina Svitolina in the singles semis, to try and make it to the doubles final as well. She and Carla Suarez Navarro did have their chances, but they failed to make five match points count and lost to Chia-Jung Chuang and Darija Jurak.
If she had won that doubles tie, Errani would have been contesting the singles and doubles title at the same tournament for the eighth time in her career. Her success suggests supreme fitness, but the Italian disagrees.
“I don’t think I’m really fit,” Errani said. “I think there are other persons that are maybe much better than me physically, but I think I just try to fight, to stay on the court – I don’t know how to say in English – suffer on the court and still keep going, stay there even if I’m dead.”
That tenacity on the courts has helped Errani earn respect on the Tour and win 25 doubles titles, including a career grand slam. She has also reached as high as No 5 in the singles rankings, played a grand slam final [2012 French Open] and won eighth titles. Tomorrow, she will have the opportunity to add another silverware to her collection, on a court she loves.
Errani had reached the Dubai final in 2013 as well, losing to Petra Kvitova. She did not come here last year, which means she has made two finals in her last three visits to Dubai.
“I think the condition of the court is good for me,” Errani said. “The ball bounces a lot and this is important for my game. Of course, you go another place where the court is much faster and the ball doesn’t bounce too much, I have more difficulty.
“But here I try to do the right things, to play my game, and, of course, if I play with spin here, it’s good.”
That spin and, of course, her never-say-die attitude should then keep the fans entertained in Saturday’s final against a similarly dogged Barbora Strycova.
arizvi@thenational.ae
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