Court Philippe Chatrier saw the conclusion of the mixed doubles event with the final taking place. It was Martina Hingis and Leander Paes who was victorious 4-6, 6-4, 10-8 against Sania Mirza and Ivan Dodig to complete the career Grand Slam set at Roland Garros
Mirza/Dodig claim set with late break
It was the big-serving Croatian Ivan Dodig who got proceedings underway in the final. Hingis and Paes are known for being fast starters, but as the set wore on it was, in fact, Sania Mirza who was dictating points and rallies much better out of the players. At 4-5 in the set with Mirza and Dodig took the game to the deciding point.
With Paes serving to level the set, it was Mirza who had been the outstanding player on the court in the set who hit a forehand shot out wide which she doubles teammate Hingis couldn't reach and her and Dodig took the opening set 4-6 taking the only break of the match.
Hingis/Paes hit back to force a match tiebreaker
The second set was much lively. The two big serves of Dodig and Paes held their serve quite comfortably, However, with Mirza serving at 1-1, Hingis and Paes got their first break point with a smash at the net. The Indian, Croatian pair managed to save both points and send the game into a deciding point and the 31-year-old Croatian put an overhead smash into the net and fell behind at 2-1. Hingis held serve impressively to consolidate the break for a 3-1 lead.
However, the lead would soon be cut short. At 2-3, Paes hit a slice into the net on the deciding point and Mirza and Dodig were back on level terms at 3-3. In the upcoming game, Paes showed terrific instincts at the net and broke once more to take full control of the set. A couple of games later, The Indian held serve to close out the second set at 6-4 to take the match into a ten-point tiebreaker.
Hingis/Paes complete Grand Slam set
The match tiebreak would be level for most parts. The Indian, Croatian partnership got a minibreak at 1-3 but was quickly closed down and the scores were level at 3-3. With the match being tight throughout, it was hard to call who would go on to win. Despite not being at heir best, Hingis and Paes continued to match Mirza and Dodig in the breaker. With the match coming down to the finish line, it was then Hingis and Paes to get a mini break and go 8-6 up. Whilst serving, it was to no surprise Sania Mirza who got them back in it with a forehand shot out wide.
Despite going on to level at 8-8, the vastly experienced team of Hingis and Paes reached match point following a fantastic finish from Leander Paes. They closed the match out and claimed the French Open title for the first time as a team with Dodig netting a forehand. They are the second mixed doubles team in the Open Era to complete a career Grand Slam with Marty Riessen and Margaret Court being the first ones. For Leander Paes, he now owns the Open Era men's record with 10 mixed doubles titles