Consistency, chemistry, and composure under pressure once again proved to be the winning formula for Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori as the Italian pair successfully defended their French Open 2026 mixed doubles crown on Thursday, reinforcing their status as one of the most formidable teams in the discipline.
Playing on the iconic Court Philippe Chatrier, the defending champions recovered from a set down to defeat American Evan King and Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski 4-6, 6-3, 10-4 in an entertaining final that showcased the highest level of mixed doubles tennis. Their victory marked another milestone in a partnership that has become synonymous with success on the Grand Slam stage.
After dropping the opening set, Errani and Vavassori raised their intensity and experience levels, taking control of crucial moments in the second set before producing a dominant performance in the deciding match tiebreak. The Italians won six of the final seven points to seal the championship and retain the title they first captured in Paris a year ago. The triumph makes them the first mixed doubles pair to successfully defend the French Open title since Croatia’s Ivan Dodig and Taiwan’s Latisha Chan achieved the feat in 2018 and 2019. It also extends an extraordinary run that has established the duo as the benchmark team in mixed doubles tennis.
Their latest success represents a fourth mixed doubles Grand Slam title in the last seven major tournaments. During that period, they have lifted trophies at Roland Garros in 2025 and 2026 and claimed consecutive US Open crowns in 2024 and 2025. Such consistency across different surfaces highlights the versatility and understanding that has developed between the two players.
For Errani, the victory adds another significant chapter to an already illustrious career. The former world No. 5 in singles and ex-world No. 1 in doubles has enjoyed a remarkable resurgence in recent seasons. Best known for reaching the 2012 French Open singles final and winning multiple major women’s doubles titles, the 39-year-old has reinvented herself as one of the most successful mixed doubles competitors on the tour.
Vavassori, meanwhile, has emerged as one of the leading doubles specialists in men’s tennis. The 31-year-old Italian has steadily climbed the doubles rankings over the past few years, with his partnership alongside Errani proving particularly productive at the Grand Slam level.
The final itself was far from straightforward. King and Dabrowski entered the championship match with impressive momentum and looked poised to cause an upset after taking the opening set. Dabrowski, one of the most accomplished doubles players on the WTA Tour and a former Grand Slam champion, combined effectively with King to pressure the defending champions early in the contest.
The Italian pair responded in characteristic fashion. Errani’s tactical awareness and net play complemented Vavassori’s powerful serve and aggressive shot-making as they broke serve midway through the second set to force a deciding match tiebreak.
Once the match entered the 10-point tiebreak format, the defending champions elevated their level considerably. Their experience in high-pressure moments became evident as they raced to an early lead and never allowed their opponents back into contention.
The victory continues a memorable season for Italian tennis, which has experienced unprecedented success across both singles and doubles competitions in recent years. With players such as Jannik Sinner, Jasmine Paolini, Errani, and Vavassori consistently challenging for major honours, Italy has firmly established itself as one of the strongest nations in world tennis.
For Errani and Vavassori, however, the focus remains on sustaining a partnership that has delivered exceptional results. Their ability to perform under pressure, adapt to different opponents, and consistently peak at major tournaments has transformed them into one of the most successful mixed doubles pairings of the modern era.
As the celebrations began on Court Philippe Chatrier, the significance of the achievement was clear. Back-to-back French Open titles, four Grand Slam crowns in seven tournaments, and a growing legacy as one of mixed doubles’ dominant partnerships have firmly secured Errani and Vavassori’s place among the discipline’s elite teams.
With their winning streak at the sport’s biggest events showing little sign of slowing down, the Italian duo’s remarkable run may still have several chapters left to be written.
