Mahut/Roger-Vasselin Capture Team Title No. 6 In Antwerp

While Nicolas Mahut and Edouard Roger-Vasselin might not be full-time partners on the doubles court, the Frenchmen have certainly found success when they do team up.

Mahut and Roger-Vasselin defeated Marcelo Demoliner and Santiago Gonzalez 6-4, 7-5 on Sunday to win the European Open, capturing the title in Antwerp after one hour and 14 minutes. It is the pair’s sixth ATP World Tour title together, including a victory in Metz last month.

“This was a great week. Nico was a bit sick at the beginning of the week, so it was tough. But then of course we’re happy to have this wonderful trophy,” Roger-Vasselin said. “I think we probably played our best match of the week today. Tough week, but really happy to have this sixth title together.”

Before that title-run at the Moselle Open, Mahut and Roger-Vasselin had not lifted a trophy together in more than five years. But now, they’ve triumphed twice in less than a month. And perhaps most impressively, the Frenchmen won all 16 sets they’ve played in those two events. 

Mahut now owns 24 tour-level titles on the doubles court, while Roger-Vasselin has 16. The latter also won in Antwerp two years ago, when he partnered recently-retired Canadian Daniel Nestor. Mahut and his usual partner, Pierre-Hugues Herbert, have already qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals, to take place at The O2 in London from 11-18 November. Buy Your London Tickets

The Frenchmen not only leave Belgium with the title, but they each gain 250 ATP Doubles Ranking points and share €33,210 in prize money. While Demoliner and Gonzalez will be disappointed to not finish the tournament as champions, the Brazilian-Mexican duo add 150 points to their totals and split €17,460. Gonzalez was also the runner-up in Antwerp last season.

“They were playing great. I think they’ve improved a lot this year,” Mahut said. “At the end of the day we have the trophy, a very beautiful one, I have to say.”