Makarova and Llodra triumph at AEGON International
Makarova and Llodra triumph at AEGON International | 
Russian qualifier Ekaterina Makarova and Frenchman Michael Llodra triumphed at the AEGON International on Saturday, both scoring straight-sets wins over their respective opponents.
Makarova, who won through three rounds of qualifying before carving her way through the main draw at Devonshire Park, won her debut Sony Ericsson WTA Tour title over Victoria Azarenka 7-6(5) 6-4.
The world No.100 said she never dreamed at the start of the qualifying event that she would go on to win the title.
“First round in qualifying I played against another Russian and we are good friends so it was really difficult to play against each other but the draw was like this, so….I just was playing and preparing for Wimbledon and I did not think anything like I was winning this tournament,” said Makarova,the first qualifier to win the AEGON International in the tournament’s history.
“It was a really tough draw and every round I was playing really tough players and they have a lot of experience and they won big tournaments. I was just enjoying tennis.”
Llodra’s 7-5 6-2 victory over Guillermo Garcia-Lopez earned him a fifth career title and his first grass court title since ‘s-Hertogenbosch in 2004.
“It’s always a pleasure to win the tournament and it doesn’t happen very often so it’s big for me,” said Llodra, who has signed up 2006 Wimbledon Champion Amelie Mauresmo, to advise him during the grass court season.
“I know I can play very well on grass but you still have to do the job and it was nice to win the title. I have to say thank you to Amelie. We’ve been working together a few weeks now and we talk about a lot of things on and off the court. I feel more comfortable because I know I am preparing well for the match. I can lose, I can win, but I feel very relaxed working with her.”
In the women’s doubles, Rennae Stubbs and Lisa Raymond combined to claim their first title together since they won at Eastbourne in 2005,defeating Katerina Srebotnik and Kveta Peschke 6-2 2-6 13-11 in the final.
“I’m just stoked,” said Stubbs after winning her sixtieth career doubles title. “It’s been a little while since I last won a tournament and there were moments today when I was a little nervous but Lisa kept me in it. Bottom line, it’s just nice to feel that feeling again and to do it for my best friend Lisa.”
Friday’s men’s doubles final saw Poland’s Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski defeat Great Britain’s Colin Fleming and Ken Skupski 6-3 5-7 10-8.
Topics: Aegon, Amelie Mauresmo, Career Title, Devonshire Park, Eastbourne, Ekaterina Makarova, First Grass, Frenchman, Good Friends, Grass Court, Guillermo Garcia Lopez, Kater, Lisa Raymond, Michael Llodra, Opponents, Rennae Stubbs, S Hertogenbosch, Sony Ericsson Wta Tour, Victoria Azarenka, Wimbledon
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