Great Britain’s Neal Skupski fell just short in his attempt to win a 4th Grand Slam title in the mixed doubles on Thursday, when he and his American partner, Desirae Krawczyk, lost 6-4 7-5 to France’s Édouard Roger-Vasselin & Laura Siegemund from Germany in the final.
Really nice to win at home. It’s the biggest tournament for me, so having the trophy here ten years after I won in doubles here, it’s quite special. Édouard Roger-Vasselin
The veteran pair of Siegemund & Roger-Vasselin were playing together for the first time, after a chance text led them to their first Roland Garros mixed doubles title.
“Many times, I wanted to play really bad with him, and he was set already or some other situation,” Siegemund told the press. “Then I was, like, ‘okay, I cannot say no to this’.”
Taking up the Frenchman’s offer 2 hours before the entry deadline, the decision paid off with the sweetest ending possible Thursday, a Grand Slam trophy.
Siegemund, a 36-year-old, previously had won the US Open mixed doubles with a different partner in 2016, and the women’s doubles in 2020, while 40-year-old Roger-Vasselin landed his first mixed doubles trophy, with his only other major title coming at Roland Garros in the men’s doubles in 2014.
Krawczyk & Skupski had previously won two Wimbledon titles together, in 2021 and 2022.
Laura Siegemund & Edouard Roger-Vasselin beat Desirae Krawczyk & Neal Skupski in straight sets in the Mixed Doubles final at Roland Garros
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Siegemund & Roger-Vasselin, the No 2 seeds, defeated 4th-seeded Krawczyk & Skupski in straight sets after an hour and 40 minutes on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
While Skupski was broken in the opening game of the contest, he and Krawczyk had plenty of opportunities to wipe away the deficit, but, standing their ground, Siegemund & Roger-Vasselin staved off 7 break points on their way to clinching the first set.
Then, down 2-4 in the second, the American-British tandem held from 30-40 on Krawczyk’s serve, and 4 consecutive breaks followed, with Roger-Vasselin unable to serve out the contest after holding championship point at 40-40.
That disappointment didn’t last long, as the home favourite and his partner seized 8 of the final 10 points to triumph on their team debut.
“Really nice to win at home,” Roger-Vasselin said afterwards. “It’s the biggest tournament for me, so having the trophy here ten years after I won in doubles here, it’s quite special.”
“I’m really happy that I decided to say yes,” laughed Siegemund. “It’s just great to have someone who can play so many different things, and tactics, and I really enjoyed that.”
Roger-Vasselin celebrated his maiden mixed doubles crown, while Siegemund added to her 2016 US Open title run with Mate Pavic.
Krawczyk & Skupski, two-time Wimbledon champions, finished runner-up for the second consecutive major.
Mixed Doubles champions Edouard Roger-Vasselin & Laura Siegemund pose with Desirae Krawczyk & Neal Skupski and their trophies after final match on Day 12 at Roland Garros
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