Italian Duo Triumphs at French Open
In a brilliant display on Thursday, the Italian duo of Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori triumphed over American players Taylor Townsend and Evan King, clinching the French Open mixed doubles title with a score of 6-4, 6-2 on the iconic Court Philippe-Chatrier. This victory marked their second Grand Slam title in mixed doubles; their first was at last year’s US Open, where they similarly overcame Townsend and her then-partner Donald Young.
Errani’s Grand Slam Achievements
Errani’s title at the French Open adds to her impressive collection of Grand Slam accomplishments, now totalling seven doubles titles, including five in women’s doubles events. After the match, Errani expressed her admiration for her opponents, saying,
“Congratulations to Evan and Taylor. It was so tough to play against you. We had to study a lot.”
Errani is set to continue her campaign in the women’s doubles semifinals alongside Jasmine Paolini on Friday.
Match Highlights
During the match, Errani and Vavassori faced early challenges in the first set, having to fend off two break points, but they managed to take control with a crucial break, leading 4-3 after Townsend misfired a forehand. The second set saw the Italians elevate their performance, breaking serve twice more and concluding the match after Townsend failed to convert a volley, showcasing their dominance.
“It’s unbelievable to be in another Grand Slam final together,”
exclaimed Vavassori. This win was particularly sweet for him as he sought redemption after falling short in the French Open men’s doubles final the previous year.
“We had an amazing run; the US Open was a dream come true, and we love to play together,”
he added.
American Team’s Struggles
The American team struggled throughout the match, committing a staggering 25 unforced errors, significantly more than their Italian counterparts, who only made nine mistakes. Townsend acknowledged the support from fans, saying,
“Thank you guys for cheering us on and taking us through this week. We’re running it back at Wimbledon,”
after recently teaming up with King as her partner since Young transitioned to the sport of pickleball following their US Open defeat.
