Two American men playing in a men’s doubles Grand Slam final is nothing short of commonplace. Normally, however, they are on the same side of the net. And related. And identical.
The United States’ once again has two in the French Open title match, but they are not twin brothers Bob and Mike Bryan. Instead, Donald Young and Ryan Harrison will be going head-to-head with a slam title on the line.
Young and Santiago Gonzalez of Mexico earned a place in the final when they overcame Fernando Verdasco and Nenad Zimonjic 6-7(3), 7-5, 6-3 on Thursday afternoon. The Young-Gonzalez pairing has also defeated No. 14 seeds Daniel Nestor and Fabrice Martin plus No. 5 seeds Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares.
“Uno mas” Young wrote on Instagram.
Gonzalez posted the following on Twitter: “Wowww #livingthedream FINAL!!!!”
Harrison and Michael Venus of Zealand made it an all-unseeded title tilting by gettin the best of 16th-seeded Colombians Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Friday. Every single victory during their incredible run has come in three sets, and it features upsets of No. 4 seeds Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo and No. 7 seeds Ivan Dodig and Marcel Granollers.
“Pumped for the final tomorrow with [Ryan]!!!” is what Venus posted on Instagram, with an accompanying video of his team’s converted match point.
Young, meanwhile, will become the fourth African-American man in tennis history to play in a Grand Slam final. He joins Arthur Ashe, Brian Shelton (mixed doubles at the 1992 French Open), and MaliVai Washington (singles at Wimbledon in 1996).
[polldaddy poll=9765219]
who ya got?
Harrison and Venus in 3. Let’s go Ryan!!
They won!! Let’s go Harrison!!