Krawczyk/Salisbury Capture US Open Mixed Doubles Title
Great Britain’s Joe Salisbury completed a US Open double on Saturday as he lifted the mixed doubles trophy with American Desirae Krawczyk, just a day after winning the men’s doubles title with Rajeev Ram in New York.
The second seeds produced a dominant performance, winning 82 per cent (28/34) of their first-serve points as they overcame Marcelo Arevalo and Giuliana Olmos 7-5, 6-2 to capture their second major title as a team.
”It has been such an incredible couple of weeks,” Salisbury said during the trophy ceremony. “Just being back here and playing the US Open with all of you guys with the fans back, it has been so much fun. To come away with two titles, I could not have even dreamt of that. Finishing by winning the title with Des, we have had so much fun together.”
Krawczyk and Salisbury were teaming for the third time this season, having advanced to the semi-finals at the Australian Open, before lifting the trophy at Roland Garros.
“It has been an amazing couple of tournaments together,” Krawczyk said. “It has just been great. We have a great chemistry. It has been amazing. Thank you to everyone for coming out to watch us and we can’t wait to come back next year.”With victory, Salisbury is the first player to sweep the US Open men’s and mixed doubles title since Bob Bryan in 2010, while Krawczyk is the first player to win three straight major mixed doubles trophies since Mahesh Bhupathi in 2005, after also winning Wimbledon with Neal Skupski.
In an entertaining match, Krawczyk and Salisbury closed the net well and returned with great depth as they looked to dictate. After breaking in the 11th game of the first set, the American-British team then held serve to move ahead.
Fuelled by momentum, the second seeds raced into a 3-1 lead in the second set and raised their level in the crucial moments throughout, saving all five break points they faced as they secured their victory after 74 minutes.
Arevalo of El Salvador was the first men’s or women’s player from Central America to compete in a major final. The 30-year-old was teaming with Giuliana Olmos for the first time in New York.
“He messaged me, but it was just so much fun playing with him,” Olmos said. “He has so much energy and is so fun on the court. For me, the most important thing is to play and have fun and I think that is what we have done this week."
“It is a really happy moment for me,” Arevalo added. “It is super special, especially having my two-year-old son with me. Thank you to everyone for making it special.”