Virginia Ruano Pascual (; born 21 September 1973) is a Spanish former professional tennis player. She had moderate success in singles, winning three WTA Tour titles as well as reaching two major quarterfinals and a top-30 ranking, but she had been far more successful in doubles.
She won 43 career doubles titles, including eleven at Grand Slam tournaments: ten in women's doubles (eight partnering Paola Suárez, and two partnering Anabel Medina Garrigues) and one in mixed doubles (partnering Tomás Carbonell). Between 2002 and 2004, along with Suárez, she reached nine consecutive Grand Slam tournament finals (won five) and they reached at least the semifinals of the last twelve Grand Slam tournaments they played. Their winning run came to an end when they lost in the 2009 Wimbledon semifinals. Alongside Suarez, the pair was named as a ITF World Champions for the three consecutive years in a row (2002-2004).
Personal life Her father, Juan Manuel Ruano, worked for Iberia Airlines; her mother, Virginia Pascual, is a housewife. She has a brother, Juan Ramón, a tennis pro who also serves as her coach, and a sister, Marbella. Initially, Virginia hyphenated her family names ("Ruano-Pascual") but has omitted the hyphen since 1998.
Career
Women's doubles
Majors Ruano Pascual was very successful at the Grand Slam tournaments. In total, she won ten titles in doubles events. She lifted the French Open trophy six times. The first one she won in 2001 along with Paola Suárez, with whom she one year ago played final but they lost. In 2002, she defended her title again with Suárez. The following year, she also reached final but finished as a runner-up, again with Suárez. The pair then triumphed again in 2004 and 2005. After three years without reaching final at the French Open, in 2008 she won another title but this time with Anabel Medina Garrigues. They successfully defended their title in 2009.
French Open is not the only major she has won. In 2004, with Suarez, she won her first and only Australian Open title. At the US Open, she collected three titles. Her first final and also title was in 2002 with Suarez. After that, the pair defended their title in the following two years (2003 and 2004). Despite not winning any title at the Wimbledon Championships, she finished as a runner-up three times (2002, 2003 and 2006). Along with her success in women's doubles, she also won one mixed doubles title at the 2001 French Open. Alongside Suárez, the pair was named as a ITF World Champions for three consecutive years in-a-row (2002-2004).
Other significant results Along with great performances at the highest-level tournaments (Grand Slams), she had success at the WTA Premier Mandatory & 5 tournaments as well. It all started with the title at the Italian Open in 1998, that also was her first either quarterfinal, semifinal or final on this level. In 2000, she did well at the Charleston Open, winning her second level title. Two years later, she went a step further, winning two titles (Italian Open & Canadian Open). After winning per two titles in 2003 and 2004, in 2005 she won three titles to reach the total of 11 titles from this level. Her last title was the 2005 San Diego Open. At most of the level tournaments, she had at least quarterfinal with one exception, the China Open that was reclassified as WTA Premier Mandatory tournament just two years before Pascual's retirement. She also has one year-end championships title at the 2003 WTA Tour Championships.
Ranking and national contribution Being one of the most successful doubles players, she did not leave her mark only on the Grand Slams & WTA Premier Mandatory/5 tournaments. She also is former world No. 1 that she achieved in September 2003. She finished 2004 as the top ranked player. In 2005, she also spent some weeks at the highest position, but finished the year as world No. 4. Until her retirement in 2010, she spent at least one week in the top 10 in each season. She also left her mark playing for Spain at the national competitions. At the Summer Olympics, she won two silver medals, in 2004 with Conchita Martínez and in 2008 with Medina Garrigues.
Singles Along with her doubles success, she had a solid singles career as well. In April 1999, she reached 28th place. She has won three WTA Tour titles. At the majors, she reached two quarterfinals; at the French Open in 1995 and Australian Open in 2003.
Performance timelines
Only main-draw results in WTA Tour, Grand Slam tournaments, Fed Cup and Olympic Games are included in win–loss records.
Singles Tournament 199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010SRW–LWin%Grand Slam tournamentsAustralian OpenAAAA1RA1R2R2R2R1R3R1RQF2R1R4R2R3R2RA0 / 1517–15French OpenAAQ2Q2Q2QF1R3R3R1RA2R2R1R3R2R1RQ11R2RA0 / 1314–13WimbledonAAAAA1R1R2R4R1RA2R2R1R3R1R2R3R2RAA0 / 1312–13US OpenAA1R1RA1R1R1R3R3R2R3R1R1R2R1R2R1R2RQ1A0 / 1610–16Win–loss0–00–00–10–10–14–30–44–48–43–41–26–42–44–46–41–45–43–34–42–20–00 / 5753–57National representationSummer OlympicsNHANH2RNHANHANHANH0 / 11–1Premier Mandatory & 5 + formerIndian Wells OpenNMSAQ1AAQ11R1R3R1R1R1R1RA1RA0 / 82–8Miami OpenAAAAAA1RQ31R3RQ12R1R1R1R2R1RA1RQ1A0 / 103–10Berlin / Madrid OpenAAAA1R1R1RAAAQ11RA2RQ2AA2RQ11R1R0 / 82–8Italian OpenAAAAA2R2RQ12R1RAAQF2RQ21RAQ12RAA0 / 88–8Canadian OpenAAAAA1R2RA2RQ12R1R3R2R1R1RAQ1AAA0 / 96–9China OpenNH/NMSQ1A0 / 00–0San Diego Open (former)NMS1RQ22RAANH/NMS0 / 21–2Charleston Open (former)AAA1RA2RA2R3R2R2R1R1R2R2R1R2R1R2RNMS0 / 1410–14Kremlin Cup (former)NH/NMSAAAAAAAQ1AAAANMS0 / 00–0Win–loss0–00–00–00–10–12–42–41–14–42–32–21–55–56–61–51–52–41–32–30–20–10 / 5932–59Career statisticsTournaments11410413161117168182118161813141252Career total: 238Year-end ranking301261138125161648754328589566555641066783105199$6,076,080
Doubles Tournament199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010SRW–L Win%Grand Slam tournamentsAustralian OpenAAAAAAAQF2R2R2RQF3RFW1RQF1RSF3R3R1 / 1431–13French OpenAA1R2R2RAA1R2R2RFWWFWW2RQFWW1R6 / 1754–11WimbledonAAAAAA1R1R2R3RQFSFFFSFAF3R3RSF2R0 / 1437–14US OpenAA2RA1RA1R2RSF2R1R3RWWWSFQF3RSF3RA3 / 1641–13Win–loss0–00–01–21–11–20–00–24–47–45–49–415–319–219–322–110–211–46–416–314–33–310 / 61163–51Year-end championshipsWTA Tour ChampionshipsDNQ1RSF1RW1R1RDNQ1RDNQ1 / 73–6National representationSummer OlympicsNHANHANHANHSNHSNH0 / 28–2Premier Mandatory & 5 + formerDubai / Qatar OpenNH/NMSQFA1R0 / 22–2Indian Wells OpenNMSA2RAA2RFSFSFWWFQFA1R1R0 / 1127–9Miami OpenAAAAAAA1R2R2R3R1RFQFQFSF2R1R1RQF1R0 / 1416–14Berlin / Madrid OpenAAAA2RA2RAAAAQFAWSFAA1R1R2RQF0 / 911–8Italian OpenAAAAA1R1RAWQFAAWQFFA1R1RQF1RA0 / 1116–9Canadian OpenAAAAA1R2RA1R2R2R1RW2RSFF1R1RA2RA0 / 1311–12Cincinnati OpenNH/NMSSFA0 / 12–1Pan Pacific OpenNMSAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQFA0 / 11–1China OpenNH/NMS2RA0 / 10–1San Diego Open (former)NMSFWQFAANH/NMS0 / 39–2Charleston Open (former)AAA1RA1RA1R2R2RWF2RWWWF1R2RNMS0 / 1425–10Kremlin Cup (former)NH/NMSAAAAAAAFAAAANMS0 / 13–1Zurich Open (former)NMSAAAAAAAAA1RFFQF1RANH/NMS0 / 57–5Win–loss0–00–00–00–11–10–32–31–37–34–47–38–514–417–526–720–39–72–65–55–82–411 / 86130–75Career statisticsTournaments13785691314171619211819201917201712Career total: 281Year-end ranking187111972021453761159028441082214103051055
Grand Slam tournament finals Doubles: 16 (10 titles, 6 runner-ups) ResultYearChampionshipSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreLoss 2000 French Open Clay Paola Suárez Martina Hingis Mary Pierce 2–6, 4–6Win 2001 French Open Clay Paola Suárez Jelena Dokic Conchita Martínez 6–2, 6–1Win 2002 French Open (2) Clay Paola Suárez Lisa Raymond Rennae Stubbs 6–4, 6–2Loss 2002 Wimbledon Grass Paola Suárez Serena Williams Venus Williams 2–6, 5–7Win 2002 US Open Hard Paola Suárez Elena Dementieva Janette Husárová 6–2, 6–1Loss 2003 Australian Open Hard Paola Suárez Serena Williams Venus Williams 6–4, 4–6, 3–6Loss 2003 French Open Clay Paola Suárez Kim Clijsters Ai Sugiyama 7–6(5), 2–6, 7–9Loss 2003 Wimbledon Grass Paola Suárez Kim Clijsters Ai Sugiyama 4–6, 4–6Win 2003 US Open (2) Hard Paola Suárez Svetlana Kuznetsova Martina Navratilova 6–2, 6–3Win 2004 Australian Open Hard Paola Suárez Svetlana Kuznetsova Elena Likhovtseva 6–4, 6–3Win 2004 French Open (3) Clay Paola Suárez Svetlana Kuznetsova Elena Likhovtseva 6–0, 6–3Win 2004 US Open (3) Hard Paola Suárez Svetlana Kuznetsova Elena Likhovtseva 6–4, 7–5Win 2005 French Open (4) Clay Paola Suárez Cara Black Liezel Huber 4–6, 6–3, 6–3Loss 2006 Wimbledon Grass Paola Suárez Yan Zi Zheng Jie 3–6, 6–3, 2–6Win 2008 French Open (5) Clay Anabel Medina Garrigues Casey Dellacqua Francesca Schiavone 2–6, 7–5, 6–4Win 2009 French Open (6) Clay Anabel Medina Garrigues Victoria Azarenka Elena Vesnina 6–1, 6–1
Mixed doubles: 1 (title) ResultYearChampionshipSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreWin 2001 French Open Clay Tomás Carbonell Jaime Oncins Paola Suárez 7–5, 6–3
Other significant finals
WTA Tour Championships
Doubles: 1 (title) ResultYearTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreWin 2003 WTA Tour Championships, Los Angeles Hard (i) Paola Suárez Kim Clijsters Ai Sugiyama 6–4, 3–6, 6–3
Summer Olympics Doubles: 2 (2 silver medals) ResultYearTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreSilver 2004 Summer Olympics, Athens Hard Conchita Martínez Sun Tiantian Li Ting 3–6, 3–6Silver 2008 Summer Olympics, Beijing Hard Anabel Medina Garrigues Serena Williams Venus Williams 2–6, 0–6
Premier Mandatory & 5
Doubles: 22 (11 titles, 11 runner-ups) ResultYearTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreWin 1998 Italian Open Clay Paola Suárez Amanda Coetzer Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 7–6(1), 6–4Win2000Charleston OpenClay Paola Suárez Conchita Martínez Patricia Tarabini7–5, 6–3Loss2001Indian Wells OpenHard Paola Suárez Nicole Arendt Ai Sugiyama4–6, 4–6Loss2001Charleston OpenClay Paola Suárez Lisa Raymond Rennae Stubbs7–5, 6–7(5), 3–6Loss2002Miami OpenHard Paola Suárez Lisa Raymond Rennae Stubbs6–7(4), 7–6(4), 3–6Win2002Italian Open (2)Clay Paola Suárez Conchita Martínez Patricia Tarabini6–3, 6–4Win2002Canadian OpenHard Paola Suárez Rika Fujiwara Ai Sugiyama6–4, 7–6(4)Win2003Charleston Open (2)Clay Paola Suárez Janette Husárová Conchita Martínez6–0, 6–3Win2003German OpenClay Paola Suárez Kim Clijsters Ai Sugiyama6–3, 4–6, 6–4Loss2003Zurich OpenHard (i) Paola Suárez Kim Clijsters Ai Sugiyama6–7(3), 2–6Win2004Indian Wells OpenHard Paola Suárez Svetlana Kuznetsova Elena Likhovtseva6–1, 6–2Win2004Charleston Open (3)Clay Paola Suárez Martina Navratilova Lisa Raymond6–4, 6–1Loss2004Italian OpenClay Paola Suárez Nadia Petrova Meghann Shaughnessy6–2, 3–6, 3–6Loss2004San Diego OpenHard Paola Suárez Cara Black Rennae Stubbs4–6, 6–1, 6–4Loss2004Kremlin CupCarpet (i) Paola Suárez Anastasia Myskina Vera Zvonareva3–6, 6–4, 2–6Loss2004Zurich OpenHard (i) Paola Suárez Cara Black Rennae Stubbs4–6, 4–6Win2005Indian Wells Open (2)Hard Paola Suárez Nadia Petrova Meghann Shaughnessy7–6(3), 6–1Win2005Charleston Open (4)Clay Conchita Martínez Iveta Benešová Květa Peschke6–1, 6–4Win2005San Diego OpenHard Conchita Martínez Daniela Hantuchová Ai Sugiyama6–7(7), 6–1, 7–5Loss2005Canadian OpenHard Conchita Martínez Anna-Lena Grönefeld Martina Navratilova7–5, 3–6, 4–6Loss2006Indian Wells OpenHard Meghann Shaughnessy Lisa Raymond Samantha Stosur2–6, 5–7Loss2006Charleston OpenClay Meghann Shaughnessy Lisa Raymond Samantha Stosur6–3, 1–6, 1–6
WTA Tour finals
Singles: 3 (3 titles) Legend Grand SlamPremier Mandatory & 5PremierInternational (3–0)Finals by surfaceHard (1–0)Clay (2–0)GrassCarpet ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfaceOpponentScoreWin 1–0 May 1997 Welsh International Open, UKTier IV Clay Alexia Dechaume-Balleret 6–1, 3–6, 6–2Win 2–0 Apr 1998 Budapest Grand Prix, HungaryTier IV Clay Silvia Farina Elia 6–4, 4–6, 6–3Win 3–0 Oct 2003 Tashkent Open, UzbekistanTier IV Hard Saori Obata 6–2, 7–6(2)
Doubles: 78 (43 titles, 35 runner-ups)