Bopanna-Dabrowski win French Open mixed-doubles title

Bopanna and Dabrowski after winning the mixed doubles at French Open. Image Source: twitter
Bopanna and Dabrowski after winning the mixed doubles at French Open.
Image Source: twitter

Internet Desk: Rohan Bopanna added another feather to his cap when he lifted his maiden title after winning the mixed doubles at the French Open. He became the fourth Indian to win a major with his partner Gabriela Dabrowski of Canada.

The duo who was seeded seventh won the game in an enthralling final.

The duo faced tough competition when they trailed 2-6 first against Anna-Lena Groenefeld of Germany and Robert Farah of Colombia, and then came back to win 6-2, 12-10 in their second Grand Slam final.

Owing to the fumbles made by Farah and Groenefeld, Bopanna and Dabrowski utilized their chances and won the match when they had two match points.

This was only the second time in his career that Bopanna had reached the summit clash of a Grand Slam.

In 2010, he had made the final of US Open with Pakistani parter Aisam-ul-haq-Qureshi and lost to the legendary Bryan brothers – Bob and Mike.

Only Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza have won Grand Slam trophies for India.

Dabrowski blinked first as she lost serve on the deciding point with Farah easily smashing past Bopanna on an overhead volley, set up after a rally.

Anna-Lena Groenefeld, who celebrated her 22nd birthday last Sunday, then made it 3-1 with an easy hold.

Bopanna, feeling the pressure, hit a forehand long to be be down by two breakpoints in the fifth game but managed to save both with the Canadian showing good skills at the net.

Farah though remained solid in his service game, never allowing the seventh seeds to put pressure on him.

Serving at 2-4, Dabrowski felt the heat and was broken at love when she hit a backhand long. It allowed Groenefeld to serve out the set and she did it with remarkable ease.

Bopanna began the second set with a double fault but managed to hold his serve even as he argued with the chair umpire on a line call.

The desperation was palpable and it had a debilitating effect on the seventh seeds as Dabrowski yet again failed to hold serve early in the second set.

However, Bopanna and his Canadian partner got a fresh lease of life when Groenefeld dropped serve at love in the next game.