Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos reaffirmed their dominance on the clay courts of Paris, successfully defending their Roland Garros doubles title with a commanding 6-4, 6-2 victory over Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten.
The Spanish-Argentine duo, seeded No. 1, showcased precision and resilience throughout the 77-minute final on Court Philippe-Chatrier, breaking serve five times and winning an impressive 83% of first-serve points.
This triumph marks their third Grand Slam trophy as a team, adding to their US Open victory in September 2025. More significantly, they became the first top seeds to win the French Open doubles crown since the Bryan brothers in 2013, cementing their place among the sport’s elite partnerships.
Granollers, 40, and Zeballos, 41, reflected emotionally on their seven-year journey together. Zeballos described the moment as one of the highlights of his career, emphasizing the trust and camaraderie that has sustained their partnership. Their flawless run in Paris—without dropping a single set—underscored their tactical mastery and enduring chemistry.
Despite the defeat, Heliovaara and Patten achieved a historic milestone. The Finnish-British pair will ascend to World No. 1 in the doubles rankings, with Heliovaara becoming only the second Finnish man to reach the summit and Patten the fifth British player to do so. Their rise follows a string of successes, including Wimbledon 2024 and the Australian Open 2025 titles.
The final thus symbolised a passing of the torch: Granollers and Zeballos reaffirmed their legacy, while Heliovaara and Patten stepped into the spotlight as the new leaders of men’s doubles. Both teams expressed mutual respect, promising to continue pushing the boundaries of the sport.
As the clay settled on Philippe-Chatrier, Roland Garros 2026 delivered a doubles finale that blended experience, emotion, and the promise of a new era.
