Published: 11:14, June 7, 2024
Siegemund and Roger-Vasselin win French Open mixed doubles title
By Reuters
France's Edouard Roger-Vasselin (left) and Germany's Laura Siegemund hold the trophy after winning against US' Desirae Krawczyk and Britain's Neal Skupski at the end of their mixed doubles final match on Court Philippe-Chatrier on day twelve of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros Complex in Paris on June 6, 2024. (PHOTO / AFP)

PARIS - Laura Siegemund and Edouard Roger-Vasselin beat Desirae Krawczyk and Neal Skupski 6-4 7-5 to win their maiden mixed doubles title together at the French Open on Thursday.

The victory gave Germany's Siegemund a second mixed doubles Grand Slam crown while it was a first for Frenchman Roger-Vasselin which made it all the more special as it came on home soil.

"This was a last minute thing, I didn't want to play mixed (doubles) here because I was in the singles and doubles also," Siegemund said at the trophy presentation ceremony.

"Then Edouard texted me two hours before the deadline... I always wanted to play with him but it was somehow not working out.

"Then I was like, 'I can't say no'. Now he's finally free, he wants to play so I think it was a good decision!"

Germany's Laura Siegemund (right) and France's Edouard Roger-Vasselin play a shot against Desirae Krawczyk of the US and Britain's Neal Skupski during the mixed doubles final match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris on June 6, 2024. (PHOTO / AP)

Meanwhile, it was a second straight loss in a Grand Slam final for Krawczyk and Skupski following their defeat at the Australian Open final in a match tiebreaker.

Number two seeds Siegemund and Roger-Vasselin broke in the first game of the match and consolidated a 2-0 lead but Skupski and Krawczyk tried to fight back and had their moments with some key winners.

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Yet the German-French duo held their serve and their teamwork, movement and communication helped them take the opening set when Siegemund smashed a cross-court winner at the net.

Siegemund and Roger-Vasselin capitalized in the second set when they targeted Krawczyk's serve, as they broke to love in the third game to take a 2-1 lead.

At 4-2, they repeated the same tactic as Krawczyk struggled on serve, leaving Skupski in difficult situations at the net.

Britain's Neal Skupski, next to US Desirae Krawczyk (top) plays a forehand return to France's Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Germany's Laura Siegemund during the mixed doubles final match on Court Philippe-Chatrier on day twelve of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros Complex in Paris on June 6, 2024. (PHOTO / AFP)

But Krawczyk, a four-times Grand Slam mixed doubles winner, managed to hold before Skupski helped them break for the first time in the contest, letting out a load roar at the net after he smashed a winner.

On the deciding point at 4-4 on Skupski's serve, Krawczyk missed an easy shot at the net which went wide to hand Siegemund and Roger-Vasselin the crucial break, but the British-American pair saved a championship point off the Frenchman's serve.

But for a third time in the set, they targeted Krawczyk's serve and broke as Siegemund got the better of Skupski twice at the net.

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The German then held serve as they clinched a first Grand Slam title together when Skupsi found the net on championship point.