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Paris remains a “magical place” for Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies. The German doubles have added another glorious chapter to their tennis fairy tale at the French Open.
16 months after the historic coup at Roland Garros, the Coburg and Cologne duo triumphed again on Saturday (10.10.2020), in the final the “KraMies” successfully defended their title against the winners of the US Open Mate Pavic / Bruno Soares (Croatia / Brazil) with a 6: 3, 7: 5.
“How many beers did you have?”
“If someone had told us that you would come back here and defend your title, they would have asked you: How many beers did you have?” Said Mies, 30, from Cologne.
“I am so happy to share the pitch with you,” Krawietz said during the moving awards ceremony, when long-lost veteran Soares also found words of thanks for the new and old French Open champions. “Guys, well done,” said the 38-year-old: “Enjoy the moment, you are undefeated here.
No double German win for 82 years before
In the previous year, Krawietz and Mies won the title at Roland Garros as the first German double in 82 years, which is why Mies described Paris as a “magical place” in the run-up to the mission to defend the title, and this year he lost none of his magic. The two Germans are the fourth male duo in professional tennis history since 1968 to successfully defend their title at the French Open.
For his second hit, the still undefeated Krawietz / Mies in Paris grossed almost 320,000 euros. The two had only played Pavic / Soares once before and lost at Cincinnati in 2019. “You are currently the hottest double on tour,” Mies had warned beforehand; after all, opponents had only triumphed at the US Open in New York in September.
Becker: “In fact, it is impossible to defend a title”
The Germans had fond memories of Pavic: alongside Austrian Oliver Marach, the Croatian was no obstacle on the road to winning the title in the third round last year. Boris Becker had already euphorically appreciated the entrance to the final. Winning a Grand Slam title was “difficult enough to actually defend impossible,” said the six-time Eurosport champion: “Having the opportunity to defend the title is incredibly strong.”
After 19-year-old Polish Iga Swiatek won the women’s singles title with her final win against American Sofia Kenin, Krawietz and Mies were able to play on Philippe Chatrier’s court in the late afternoon.
Krawietz with brilliant returns
As in the semi-finals, 28-year-old Krawietz came back strong as a bear, two-year-old Mies played fast at the net – the result was the early break to 3-1. In the last 16, Krawietz and Mies had to defend against three match points against France’s Benjamin Bonzi / Antoine Hoang, after which they displayed extremely confident performances from match to match.
“If we bring out our strengths on the field, we are very difficult to play and extremely difficult to beat,” Mies had said, and he proved it with Krawietz also on Saturday: after half an hour, the first set went to the defending champions.
Animate from the box
Krawietz and Mies, cheered aloud by a handful of family and friends in the box, dominated the first dangerous situation of the match, fending off three break points at 1: 2 in the second set. The Germans have been lurking ever since for their chance, which later turned out to be 5: 5, and which Krawietz seized with a fantastic return at halftime and for the preliminary decision. If he served his own second game ball, he sat down.
Those: sportschau.de
