Paris | Dodig and Krajick pick up doubles title

Having missed out on last year’s French Open doubles title by letting three championship points slip by, Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek were determined not to let their second chance twelve months later, of allowing any similar mistakes.

We waited 12 months for another opportunity to be here, It really is special. Austin Krajicek

And they did so in style storming to the title with a resounding 6-3 6-1 victory over the Belgian duo of Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen.

The Croatian-American combination converted four of eight break points they earned as they through an 80-minute triumph on Court Philippe Chatrier, dominating the latter stages by winning nine of the final 10 games with some solid serving and network.

“We waited 12 months for another opportunity to be here,” Krajicek said during the trophy presentations. “It really is special. We’ll keep fighting, we’re always looking to get better. [It was] a great tournament and we’ll keep building on that.”

There were no signs heart-breaking memories affecting this year’s performance as they powered their way past Gille and Vliegen with 27 winners to their 17.

The victory will also lift Krajicek to the top of the doubles world rankings when the list is published on Monday.

“I just want to thank my partner for the amazing run here,” Dodig said addressing Krajicek. “You [won] your first Grand Slam title, [on Monday] you are No.1 in the world and you well deserve it, so well done.”

It was a third major men’s doubles title for Dodig, who also triumphed at Roland Garros in 2015 (with Brazilian Marcelo Melo)) and at the 2021 Australian Open (with Slovak Filip Polasek).

The two Belgians, who first teamed up at an ITF World Tennis Tour event 10 years ago and have won seven ATP Tour titles together, upset four seeded opponents en route to their first major final.

“Congratulations to you guys,” Gille said. “Obviously you deserve it, especially after making the final this year again, so you’ve done a great job and congratulations to you.”

Vliegen then added: “I don’t think we would have thought [we would reach a major final] when we started playing together back in 2015. Dreams become goals, and I think even though we are disappointed we didn’t take the victory today, I think we can be very happy that we’ve come so far already. We will go right back to work and make sure we are on the right-side next time.”