In a dramatic showdown at Roland Garros, Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski faced off against the seasoned duo of Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos in the French Open men's doubles final. Despite their valiant efforts, the British pair fell short, losing 6-0, 6-7 (5-7), 7-5.

A Rocky Start

The match began disastrously for Salisbury and Skupski, who were broken three times in the opening set, resulting in a 6-0 loss. The British duo struggled to find their rhythm, while Granollers and Zeballos capitalized on every opportunity.

Second Set Resilience

Refusing to be deterred, Salisbury and Skupski came back stronger in the second set. They saved five break points and eventually forced a tie-break. Despite losing the first mini-break, they rallied with a double mini-break of their own to clinch the set 7-6 (7-5).

The Deciding Set

The third set saw the British pair take an early lead with a break in the opening game. However, Granollers and Zeballos quickly broke back to level the score. At 3-3, Salisbury and Skupski had two break points but failed to convert them. Another missed opportunity at 5-5 proved costly.

The Final Blow

In the next game, Granollers and Zeballos earned three break points on Skupski's serve. They converted the first to win the match and secure their first Grand Slam doubles title as a pair. This victory marked their fourth final appearance together.

Conclusion

While Salisbury and Skupski's journey ended in heartbreak, their performance showcased their potential as a formidable doubles team. Fans can look forward to seeing more from this promising British duo in future tournaments.