Chile’s Alexa Guarachi and US Desirae Krawczyk edged past US Nicole Melichar and singles finalist and 2017 Wimbledon Junior champion Iga Swiatek from Poland 7-6 (7-5) 1-6 6-4 to advance to their first-ever Grand Slam doubles final at Roland Garros.
Guarachi amd Krawczyk came back from 2-5 down in the first set and went down a break three times before breaking serve in the last game of the match to secure their spot in the final.
Before this year’s tournament neither Guarachi nor Krawczyk had ever got through to the round of 16 in a Grand Slam women’s doubles tournament. Earlier this week they upset number 1 seeds Barbora Strycova and Hsieh Su-wei.
Swiatek was a win away from becoming the first female player to reach bot the singles and doubles finals at Roland Garros in the same edition since Sara Errani in 2012.
Melichar and Swiatek earned the first break to take a 3-2 lead. Swiatek got the double break with a backhand crosscourt winner to open up a 5-2 lead. Guarachi and Krawczyk fended off a set point at 5-3 and 5-4 and pulled back to one single break. Swiatek missed the third set point with a wide backhand, before Guarachi and Krawczyk got the second break back to draw level to 5-5. Guarachi held serve to win her fourth consecutive game from 2-5 to take a 6-5 lead. Guarachi and Krawczyk went up a 4-0 lead in the tie-break. Melichar and Swiatek won three consecutive points to 3-4. Krawchuk won her two service points to earn three set points at 6-3. Krawczyk sealed the tie-break on the third set point with a volley after 74 minutes.
Melichar and Swiatek saved a break point at 1-1 in the second set before breaking serve in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead. Swiatek came through a tough service game to consolidate her break with a backhand crosscourt for 4-1. Melichar got the double break with a volley to race out to a 5-1 lead and served out the second set in the seventh game.
Both teams traded breaks six times in a row en route to drawing level to 4-4. Krawczyk survived four deuces on her serve in a long ninth game. Guarachi and Krawczyk did not face any break point. Guarachi converted the fifth game point with a volley to hold serve for 5-4.
As Swiatek was serving to stay in the match, Guarachi and Krawcyzk earned three match points. Melichar saved the first two chances with a volley, but Guarachi and Krawczyk converted their third chance to secure a spot in their first Grand Slam final.
