09/06/2012 00:08 CEST - Roland Garros

Errani/Vinci win the doubles title

Sara Errani e Roberta Vinci (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

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Magnificent, fantastic, unbeatable. Roberta and Sara, the Golden Girls of Italian tennis, have put their names in the history books by winning the first ladies double's Slam, defeating in three sets the Russians Kirilenko e Petrova in two hours and 4 minutes. In mixed doubles in 1986 Raffaella Reggi won the US title together with the Spaniard Sergio Casal, defeating Navratilova and Fleming. Among the men ‘only’ the great Pietrangeli and Sirola won a Grand Slam in 1959, dfeating in the final the feared Australian couple of Emerson/Fraser. Nick went on to take the Men’s single title, maybe a good omen for Sara, who tomorrow faces Sharapova in the singles final. Sara will try to equal Marie Pierce who in 2000 was the last player to take both singles and doubles titles. Actually both Santangelo and Pennetta have won Slams in doubles but with foreign partners.

This is a victory which breathes life into Italian tennis, not only as the 2000 points gained (as well as 170,000 euros per player) rises them up to third and fourth spot in the doubles rankings (in this year's rankings they are way ahead having won 6 tournaments in 2012, 11 in total) but above all it gives Italy real hope for a medal in the upcoming Olympics in London, a feat in which the whole country starts to believe in. An achievement which hasn’t been reached since 1924 when Baron Umberto De Morpurgo won the bronze.

Doubles is often seen throughout Italy as the inferior version of the game but in reality it has nothing less to offer than singles.

Sara and Roberta as a couple, tennis wise, were brought together by the wisdom of the Fed Cup Captain Barazzutti in 2010 and they have been full of surprises since. They are firm friends off court where they are often found together. They are delightful girls who despite their success have their feet firmly on the ground, in the post-match press conferences they are a joy to interview and full of life and wit. “Today we were very nervous - explains Roberta Vinci the leader of the team, especially myself at the start of the match. Luckily we relaxed and were able to express our natural game”. Undefeated on clay, their record of 19 straight victories speak for itself. “This win – states Sara – gives us real hope for the future. Let’s hope for the very near future!”.

The Match
The players boxes were full to the brim with friends and relatives (both sets of parents were there) the President the Italian Federation Binaghi, the director Palmieri, captain Barazzutti and of course the two coaches Cinà and Lozano. Understandably the girls were not loose from the start and were trailing 2-0 and 3-1, they tried to come back into the match but the Russians seemed to be on top and took the first set 6-4.
In the second set the Russians remained ahead but there were signs of a comeback as the clouds gathered. Thanks to an improved Errani from the baseline, Italy edged ahead 3-2. As the rain arrived the match was suspended for 30 minutes. Once the game restarted the Italians seemed more determined and had an extra spring in their step. After leading 4-2 they let the Russians back in, but at 4-4 the Italians broke to take it to 5-4. Errani served for the set and with Vinci dominating the net the match was all-square after an hour and 24 minutes.
In the third set the Italians were on fire and raced to a 4-1 lead, Roberta was spectacular at the net and produced a whole array of half volleys and running lobs. The Russians tried to mount a comeback but at their second match point the Italians were able to leap for joy, following yet another error from Petrova.
The party exploded in the stands, happiest of all Roberta’s Father who couldn’t stop jumping for joy whilst capturing everything on film. Sara celebrates and hopes to be holding the cup tomorrow as well.

Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci's press conference

Daniele Flavi