WHAT HAPPENED: Unseeded duo Mate Pavic of Croatia and Bruno Soares of Brazil defeated No. 8 seeds Wesley Koolhof of the Netherlands and Nikola Mektic of Croatia, 7-5, 6-3, to capture the 2020 US Open men’s doubles title. This is the second US Open title in men’s doubles for Soares and the first for Pavic.
Despite their lower ranking, Pavic and Soares had more Grand Slam experience on the court, as Koolhof and Mektic were both competing in their first-ever Grand Slam in men’s doubles. Pavic, meanwhile, won the 2018 Australian Open men’s doubles title (with former partner Oliver Marach), and Soares captured the 2016 Australian Open and US Open men’s doubles titles (with former partner Jamie Murray).
Throughout the first set, Pavic and Soares tended to be the stronger pair (and Pavic appeared to be the strongest server), but the team was just not able to capitalize in important moments, including on their one break-point opportunity early on at 3-2. As a result, the teams stayed even through 6-5, and Mektic had two game points to take the close set to a tiebreak at 40-15. Suddenly, Pavic and Soares began to connect on returns, forcing errors off their opponents' racquets. They won four points in a row and, seemingly out of nowhere, grabbed the first set with a backhand winner from Soares.
In the second set, the teams stayed on serve through the first five games. With Koolhof serving at 3-2, Pavic and Soares raced out to a 0-40 lead, thanks again to some solid returning. While Koolhof was able to save one break point with a strong serve, the team could do nothing, as Pavic lobbed a ball over Mektic’s head on the next point. One break was all they needed, and they capably served out the set to capture the title. Pavic and Soares did not face a single break point all match.
WHAT IT MEANS: Pavic and Soares came dangerously close to a second-round exit in their match against Jack Sock and Jackson Withrow. The Americans served for the match in the second set, but the newly-minted US Open champions fought back and eventually advanced in three. Soares now captures his sixth Grand Slam title, having won three mixed doubles titles in addition to his two 2016 men’s doubles titles. Pavic now claims his fourth.
“It feels amazing,” Soares said after the match. “A Grand Slam is a Grand Slam. That's why we play. We had a little bit of a rough beginning of the year tennis-wise, some injuries, some tough losses, and then the crazy world. But to get back straight on and win a Grand Slam, it feels pretty good now. We put in a lot of work last week [at the Western & Southern Open], and we lost the first round. I was coming from some tough 15 days of having [COVID-19], so I didn't get much practice before coming here. [It’s] pretty special to have this trophy with us now.”
“We had a very tough tournament, a very tough five matches,” Pavic added. “Our opponents were serving for the match in the second round… so we got back from all of those situations, building up confidence, playing better and better.”
Pavic also noted some Croatian history being made: This match marked the first time two Croats—Pavic and Mektic—contested a Grand Slam final in men’s doubles.
“It’s a nice story for the Croatian fans,” he said.
MATCH POINT: How’s this for clutch serving on one of the biggest occasions? Pavic and Soares did not face a single break point all match.
