American Ryan Harrison and New Zealander Michael Venus claimed their first grand slam title when they beat Mexican Santiago Gonzalez and American Donald Young 7-6(5) 6-7(4) 6-3 in the French Open men's doubles final on Saturday.
After two fiercely-contested opening sets between the two unseeded pairs, Harrison and Venus broke decisively for 5-3 and held serve to prevail on Court Philippe Chatrier.
It was the pair's first major final, Harrison having never reached the last four in a grand slam while his partner had never even been in a quarter-final.
Venus, who became New Zealand’s first male grand slam winner since Onny Parun teamed up with Australia’s Dick Crealy to win the 1974 French Open, said:
Ryan, thanks for playing. I am not very good at this. To all the people back home, I got lots of messages and support. To all my family watching, my mom is here watching, I wouldn’t be here without you.
Venus and Harrison teamed up ahead of the clay-court season earlier this year and won their first ATP tournament in Estoril last month.