Both Santiago Gonzalez and Edouard Roger-Vasselin have enjoyed long and distinguished careers on the ATP Tour, but that didn’t make their triumph on Saturday at the Miami Open presented by Itau any less special.
The Mexican-French duo defeated Austin Krajicek and Nicolas Mahut 7-6(4), 7-5 to claim the trophy at the hard-court ATP Masters 1000 event in Florida. It was a second title at that level for 39-year-old Roger-Vasselin and a first for 40-year-old Gonzalez, who was the first Mexican finalist in tournament history.
“It was my dream, of course,” said Gonzalez. “Lifting this kind of title, a Masters 1000. I’m 40 years old, I didn’t have one, this is my first. I’m glad [it’s] today. Today is my son’s birthday, so I’m going to remember this day for the rest of my life and I’m very happy.”
One of the most prestigious titles in tennis ????????@gonzalezsanty ???? @ERogerVasselin clinch doubles glory 7-6(4), 7-5 over Mahut/Krajicek@MiamiOpen | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/mn9EuRDTDq
— ATP Tour (@atptour) April 1, 2023
Gonzalez and Roger-Vasselin produced a clinical performance inside Hard Rock Stadium to seal a one-hour, 44-minute victory. They converted both break point chances they earned, including their only one of the second set which doubled up as a championship point.
“It’s thanks to the golf. We are playing golf together… That’s the highlight of the week,” joked Roger-Vasselin. “But on the court, we fight from the first to the last ball, and we did pretty well for the last month. I’m really happy to lift another trophy. It’s my second Masters 1000, but for sure it’s always good to have a trophy like that.”
After teaming sporadically in 2022, Gonzalez and Roger-Vasselin joined forces on a permanent basis at the start of 2023. Despite being one of the older partnerships on Tour, their ongoing desire to win powered them to a first title as a team in February in Marseille. Now, they are a Masters 1000-winning duo.
“This is what we love,” said Gonzalez. “We’ve been doing this for our whole lives, so of course we want to step on the court and win titles. We are old, yes, but we now [have children], who are starting to play tennis. It’s good for them also to see Dad play on the main arena, so hopefully I can play a few more years.”
Despite their final defeat, Krajicek and 2016 Miami champion Mahut enjoyed a stirring run in their first tournament together. The pair teamed after Krajicek’s regular partner, Ivan Dodig, withdrew from the event due to injury.
