Harare — THE co-world number one women's tennis doubles team of Cara Black and Liezel Huber are in France where they are defending the GDF Suez Paris Open title.

Black of Zimbabwe and her American partner Huber briefly separated last week after they played in the two-week Australian Open in Melbourne where the former won the mixed doubles title with India's Leander Paes.

That title was Black's first in mixed doubles in Australia and it completed a career slam after the French Open won in 2002 with her brother Wayne, Wimbledon in 2004 still with Wayne and the US Open in 2008 with Paes.

After their sojourn Down Under, Black returned to her base in London while Huber joined the American Fed Cup team that beat France 4-1 in the opening round of the elite world women's team competition in Lievin near Lille in France, at the weekend.

Black and Huber have now reunited and are currently in France where they are playing in the US$700 000 GDF Suez Paris Open. The Zimbabwean-American combo are the defending champions after lifting the GDF Suez Paris Open doubles title last year in February.

In last year's final, Black and Huber beat Kveta Peschke of the Czech Republic and American Lisa Raymond 6-4, 3-6, 10-4. The GDF Suez Paris Open was one of the five titles that Black and Huber during last year's campaign in which they, however, failed to lift any Grand Slam title.

Black and Huber are looking for a repeat performance at this year's GDF Suez Paris Open where they are once again the top-seeded team.

They open their campaign with what looks like a relatively easier first-round task against wildcard entries Julie Coin and Alize Cornet, both of France.

In Paris, Black and Huber are searching for their third title of the year after winning the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, and the Medibank Sydney International tournament in Australia last month.

They picked up a cheque for US$11 000 for winning in Auckland and another for US$31 000 for their successful campaign in Sydney.

At the end of last month, Black and Huber managed to fight all their way to the final of the first Grand Slam of the year -- Australian Open -- where they unfortunately lost to the all-conquering Williams sisters -- Serena and Venus -- of the United States.

For losing in the final of the Australian Open, Black and Huber received a cheque for A$225 000 (approximately US$72 453), bringing to a total of US$114 453 they have so far made on the road as team this year.

And if they retain the GDF Suez Paris Open title this week, they will receive another cheque for US$34 000.