The 9th seeded team of Daniela Hantuchova and Ai Sugiyama rode the improved net play of Sugiyama and the always-impressive Hantuchova groundstrokes to efficiently topple unseeded Nathalie Dechy and Mara Santangelo in a semi final doubles match at Melbourne on Thursday. The impressive performance boosted the team into the finals where they will meet Venus and Serena Williams, who seeks to combine her 2009 doubles trophy with a 2009 singles championship. The doubles finals should be an exciting match pitting f Hantuchova and Sugiyama’s finesse against the Williams power game.

In the semis, Hantuchova and Sugiyama showed their usual camaraderie but took their teamwork to a new level. Sugiyama turned in a superlative volley and mid-volley game. Her low, close to the net strokes shortened the court and lured the opponents into uncomfortable mid-court positions. Meanwhile, Daniela patrolled the baseline like a hungry tigress. Her penetrating cross court forehands continuously drove Santangelo and Dechy deep behind the baseline.

Dechy and Santangelo tried a variety of strategies to offset the smooth play of their opposition. They staggered their alignments, juggled their positioning and mixed the pace of their strokes as well as any team could. Whatever they tried, Sugiyama and Hantuchova had the answers. Still riding the momentum from their thrilling win over the top seeded team of Huber and Raymond, Hantuchova and Sugiyama look poised to take on the power game of the Williams sisters.

Success at women’s doubles is nothing new to the American sister team. The Williams’s already possess three Grand Slam Doubles Titles. Even though seeded 10th, many experts and bookmakers liked the Williams entry from the beginning. Although Serena is still competing for the Singles Championship, she appears excited about her chances in the doubles. After an unexpected early departure from the singles by Venus, she has been able to concentrate on the doubles throne.

The sisters dominated Australia’s Casey Dellacqua and Italy’s Francesca Schiavone from the start in the 6-0, 6-2 semis. Most spectators left wondering who could challenge the two American sluggers.

The huge difference in serving velocity spelled doom for the underdogs right from the beginning. The Williams sisters were never threatened in the one hour contest. Serena, who had completed her singles romp, had a special day at Melbourne. If the sisters play with the same intensity in the finals, Hantuchova and Sugiyama may hard-pressed to survive and may well be left wondering what train just left the station..

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