In the all French men's doubles final, Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut came away 6-4, 7-6(1), 6-3 against compatriots Julien Benneteau and Edouard Roger-Vasselin to claim the Wimbledon title for the very first time.
Herbert and Mahut take late break to clinch set
At the start of the men's doubles final, Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut looked sharp from the off making Benneteau and Roger-Vasselin work for every point and every service game. The world number one French team have been dominant this year having won four doubles titles, more than any other team. With nothing to separate the two teams, at 4-4 there seemed to be an opening for Herbert/Mahut. With the score at 30-30 Roger-Vasselin, who had been the shakier player, hit a double fault, but a point later managed to erase the break point and send the game to deuce with some great reactions at the net.
Herbert hit a backhand down the middle to again reach break point. However, Roger-Vasselin dug them out of a hole, saved another break point opportunity and held for 4-4. In the next game, it was the turn of the world number one pairing to face break points. Benneteau and Roger-Vasselin executed two fine points and fashioned a double-break point opportunity. However, the youngest player on the court at 25 years old, Herbert, served two timely first serves which caught the unseeded pair off balance and both opportunities were saved. They eventually held to go 5-4 ahead. Herbert and Mahut had to be patient and with five set points missed, they finally put away their chance and went one set up.
Top seeds taken to tiebreak, goes two sets up
With the top seeds one set up, they decided to up their game. They held their opening two service games pretty comfortable while Benneteau and Roger-Vasselin were always being made to work for their's. The most serious challenge Herbert and Mahut faced was in the fifth game of the set. Mahut mishit an overhead which gave Benneteau and Roger-Vasselin break point at advantage, but Mahut then served a timely ace and the opportunity had been saved.
But two games later, the top seeds would face another and again they would be up to the task and save the point, this time going on to hold their serve to edge ahead at 3-2. The unseeded French pair were always up against it being a set behind and being made to work for it, but after 45 minutes they managed to take the second to a tiebreaker. But Herbert and Mahut were always in control. Having won the first point, they went on to win six of the next seven to win the breaker 7-1 and set 7-6(1).
An emotional Herbert and Mahut clinch first ever Wimbledon title
Just like the previous two sets, both players were holding their serve. With the score at 2-1, Roger-Vasselin and Benneteau had to fight and come from love-30 down to win the next four points to level at 2-2. Mahut and Herbert were combining superbly at the net and finding critical gaps against their compatriots. The third set was never in doubt and in the seventh game, Herbert ripped a backhand winner down the line for a break point chance.
The top seeds took their chance and broke with another timely return winner for 4-3. The pair held and went within a game of the title. In the following game, Benneteau hit an excellent serve to deny the world number one pair on the first championship point. The unseeded pair had to save another match point before a fantastic return from Herbert made Benneteau net a forehand and the 25 and 34 year olds claimed their second Grand Slam in their 18 months together and their fifth title of the year.