By Chris Oddo | Sunday June 5, 2016
Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic became the first all-French pairing to win the women’s doubles title at Roland Garros since 1971 with a thrilling 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 victory over Russians Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina.
"So there are the big tournaments that we have already won, which is a good success in itself, but, you know, winning a Grand Slam, and here in Roland Garros, it's ten steps above what is logical or normal," an emotional Mladenovic told reporters after the match.
"Winning a Grand Slam in France with another French player, Kristina, someone who I like very much and we have lived incredible things together, is something, which, for the time being, is above anything I have lived before," Garcia added.
The French duo has had a fantastic run since forming a full-time partnership earlier this season. They have won four titles and reached ten finals, while also becoming a formidable Fed Cup pairing, but their run to the Roland Garros title was undeniably their most magical performance to date.
The French duo started furiously, racing out to a 5-0 lead in the opener, but Makarova and Vesnina, two-time major champions who captured the French title in 2013, rallied to make it close.
The Russians carried their momentum forward to take the middle set, but Garcia and Mladenovic proved unstoppable in the decider as the crowd urged them on. They took the final three games (and 12 of the final 15 points) to create a memorable, emotional scene on Court Philippe Chatrier.
"There were so many people on the central court," Garcia said. "We got so much support. When I was serving there were games I was tense. There was pressure on me. At that moment there were positive vibes. This is the crowd giving you these positive vibes; therefore, you live this thing even more deeply."