Virginia Ruano Pascual, via www.rolandgarros.com (PATRICK KOVARIK/AFP/Getty Images)

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HeTucked away in a Danish news story about Caroline Wozniacki finding new and creative ways to overextend herself by planning a full doubles schedule next year was news of the retirement of one of the great players of the last decade.

Spain's Virginia Ruano Pascual, winner of ten grand slam doubles titles, is hanging up her racquet at the end of this season at age 36.  Ruano Pascual's ten grand slam titles this decade are the highest of anyone in the WTA, including both Williams sisters.  She won her first eight slams with Paola Suarez, and her most recent two with Anabel Medina Garrigues.  Six of her ten slams were at the French Open.  She was a Wimbledon away from a career slam, but she made the finals there three times, which is a pretty decent consolation prize.

Ruano Pascual's style of play didn't lend itself to anywhere near as much success in mixed doubles, but she did win the 2001 French Open mixed crown with Tomas Carbonell.

VRP was also no slouch when she had a side of the court to herself.  She won four titles, including a rare clay court title in the UK, and reached a career high ranking of #28.

From a doubles perspective, Ruano Pascual has numbers that should make her a lock for the Hall of Fame.  If they are going to start inducting doubles specialists any time soon, she should be atop the list, for sure.