Herbert/Mahut Carry Home Hopes At Roland Garros

Top seeds Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut topped Aussies Sam Groth and Bernard Tomic 6-3, 6-3 in the first round of the Roland Garros doubles tournament on Wednesday. The Frenchmen did not face a break point in the 54-minute win.

Herbert/Mahut, the reigning US Open doubles champions, are attempting to become the second French team in three years to lift the doubles trophy at Roland Garros. In 2014, Julien Benneteau and Edouard Roger-Vasselin topped Spaniards Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez to break a 20-year title drought for the home nation (Leconte/Noah in 1984). Mahut was a finalist in 2013, partnering Michael Llodra (l. to Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan). Benneteau/Roger-Vasselin reprised their partnership at this year’s tournament, beating Albert Ramos-Vinolas and Jiri Vesely 6-0, 4-6, 7-6(2) in their opening match.

Four-time champion Daniel Nestor is still in contention after teaming up with Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi to beat Inigo Cervantes and Paolo Lorenzi 7-6(5), 6-2. The Canadian last tasted victory in Paris alongside Max Mirnyi in 2012. Mirnyi and Treat Huey moved into the second round thanks to a 6-7(3), 7-6(5), 6-1 win over Italians Fabio Fognini and Andreas Seppi.

Marcin Matkowski and Leander Paes, seeded No. 16, edged Aliaksandr Bury and Denis Istomin 7-6(3), 7-6(6). Paes won three Roland Garros doubles titles alongside Mahesh Bhupathi (1999 & 2001) and Lukas Dlouhy (2009).