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Home  » Sports » Mattek-Sands and Safarova win French Open doubles

Mattek-Sands and Safarova win French Open doubles

Last updated on: June 11, 2017 19:02 IST
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Bethanie Mattek-Sands

IMAGE: Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lucie Safarova celebrate. Photograph: Twitter

American Bethanie Mattek-Sands and the Czech Republic's Lucie Safarova claimed their third consecutive Grand Slam doubles title with a convincing 6-,2 6-1 victory over Australian duo Ashleigh Barty and Casey Dellacqua at the French Open on Sunday.

Bethanie Mattek-Sands

 

The top-seeded pair of Mattek-Sands and Safarova, who also won the 2016 US Open and the Australian Open earlier this year, are one grand slam away from holding all four majors at the same time.

The Australian duo, who were bidding for their first grand slam title together, struggled for the majority of the hour-long contest after their serve was broken three times in each set.

Bethanie Mattek-Sands

 

Mattek-Sands, however, praised her opponents, who had dropped just one set on their way to the final.

"You guys have done a great job and you're an awesome team,” the 32-year-old said.

"I’m sure we're gonna be facing you again soon."

The Australian pair reached three Grand Slam finals together in 2013 without taking home the trophy and were unable to end their long wait in Paris, while Dellacqua's overall record in women's doubles finals is 0-7.

Harrison and Venus take first Grand Sam title

Ryan Harrison

IMAGE:   Ryan Harrison and New Zealander Michael Venus. Photograph: Twitter

American Ryan Harrison and New Zealander Michael Venus claimed their first grand slam title when they beat Mexican Santiago Gonzalez and American Donald Young 7-6(5), 6-7(4), 6-3 in the French Open men's doubles final on Saturday.

After two fiercely-contested opening sets between the two unseeded pairs, Harrison and Venus broke decisively for 5-3 and held serve to prevail on Court Philippe Chatrier.

It was the pair's first major final, Harrison having never reached the last four in a grand slam while his partner had never even been in a quarter-final.

“Ryan, thanks for playing. I am not very good at this," said the 29-year-old Venus, who became New Zealand's first male grand slam winner since Onny Parun teamed up with Australia's Dick Crealy to win the 1974 French Open.

"To all the people back home, I got lots of messages and support. To all my family watching, my mom is here watching, I wouldn’t be here without you."

Venus and Harrison teamed up ahead of the clay-court season earlier this year and won their first ATP tournament in Estoril last month.

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Source: REUTERS
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