Top seeds Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic faced off against Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lucie Safarova in the women’s doubles finals. In a top half heavy draw, the Frenchwomen took out both the world number one and two, now playing with different partners, en route to the final. As for their opponents, the 12th seeds overcame the Rio gold medalists Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina to book their spot in the finals. The last time the pair met, the French pair ended their eight-match winning streak to win their first title together.
And it started the right way again for the top seeds who sailed through the first set. Just when they were within a game of capturing their second Grand Slam of the year, they faltered allowing the 12th seeds to get back into the match. And the French pair were never able to recover the early break in the decider as Mattek-Sands and Safarova wrapped up a 2-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 for their third slam together.
Solid first set from the top seeds
The French seeds were firmly in control of the opening set. Capitalizing on a sluggish start by Mattek-Sands and Safarova, Garcia and Mladenovic were off to a strong 2-0 lead. It wasn’t the best of starts by the 12th seeds but they got a game in to settle their nerves. Mattek-Sands, whose serve was broken in the first game, once again struggled with errors sending her forehand long to hand the French duo break point in the fifth game. Safarova could not control the shot at the net as they went down a double break.
Serving to consolidate the double break, the top seeds then faced their first test facing a couple of break points. Garcia, however, showed nerves of steel to calmly see out the danger with her serving as the pair built a commanding 5-1 lead. Despite holding serve one more time, it was a little too late for the 12th seeds as Mladenovic served out for 6-2 to give the French a one-set lead.
Late fightback sees Mattek-Sands and Safarova get right back into the match
The second set was a lot tighter than the first and both teams had chances to break each other’s serve. It seemed to finally click for Mattek-Sands and Safarova though as they held their first game with an entertaining display. They started to be more aggressive but the French wall was holding strong.
The top seeds slightly the better team at this point carved out their first opportunity to break in the fifth game as Mladenovic ripped out a fiery return causing the error from Safarova. Garcia failed to convert, however, rushing her return into the net, before the Czech remained calm to nose ahead for 3-2. The French were only growing stronger as the match progressed and some fine tennis in the ninth game gave them the crucial lead and break for 5-4.
Serving for the match, Garcia’s nerves got the better of her and Mattek-Sands and Safarova broke right back and went up 6-5. The French pair was crumbling under pressure serving to stay alive in the match and gave their opponents set point. However, it was a gutsy hold coming up tops in the rally that ensued before closing out the game to bring to a tiebreak.
The tiebreak saw them exchange mini-breaks for 3-3. However, the 12th seeds were growing in confidence and they reeled off the next three points getting themselves set points. The French duo held serve for the next two points but could not save the third set point as Mattek-Sands and Safarova brought the match to a decider.
Early break seals the deal
The French pair got off to a bad start as their dip continued getting broken in the first game of the decider. The 12th seeds were clearly riding the momentum and were holding serve with authority. Despite trailing, the top seeds kept within touch of their opponents as the match progressed.
However, it was clear that it was going to be hard to find a breakthrough with the Mattek-Sands and Safarova holding serve so well. The Frenchwomen did what they could, holding for 4-5 to force Safarova to serve for the match. The Czech’s left-handed serves continued to be in charge and the team calmly wrapped up the victory.