The unseeded pair of Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-Wei & Wang Xinyu from China won the French Open women’s doubles title after taking down 10th-seeded North Americans Leylah Fernandez & Taylor Townsend, 1-6 7-6 (5) 6-1, in the final at Roland Garros on Sunday.
It's very special because I was not expecting to play and don't know who I play with. Because at this time on the clay-court season, the middle of the year or something like this, it's hard to find a partner. Hsieh Su-Wei
It was another upset victory for Hsieh & Wang, who beat America’s Nicole Melichar-Martinez & Ellen Perez from Australia, the No 6 seeds, to reach the final, as well as 3 other seeded pairs on the way.
The feat was made more remarkable by the fact it was only their second tournament playing together after teaming up at Strasbourg last month.
“We were not thinking too much about winning or losing,” Wang said. “We were just really enjoying each other’s company on court.”
The 37-year-old Hsieh is now a 5-time Grand Slam doubles champion, having won the women’s doubles title with Peng Shuai at the 2014 French Open, and going on to land 3 Wimbledon titles.
Hsieh had not played in a Grand Slam since 2021 due to injury and was doubtful she could even play at Roland Garros.
“It’s very special because I was not expecting to play and don’t know who I play with,” Hsieh said. “Because at this time on the clay-court season, the middle of the year or something like this, it’s hard to find a partner.”
She found the perfect one in the 21-year-old Wang, whose first major came in her Roland Garros debut.
It also was the first major final in doubles for Canadian Fernandez, the 2021 US Open singles runner-up, while Townsend, in her only Major final, was runner-up with American compatriot Caty McNally at last year’s US Open doubles to Barbora Krejcíkova & Katerina Siniakova from the Czech Republic.
Leylah Fernandez (R) & Taylor Townsend won the first set but could not sustain their lead against Wang Xinyu & Hsieh Su-wei in the doubles final
Champions Wang Xinyu (2ndL), Hsieh Su-wei (R) with the runners-up Leylah Fernandez (2ndL) & Taylor Townsend posing with their trophies on Sunday
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