​London (AP) — Kristina Mladenovic captured a seventh career Grand Slam women’s doubles title by partnering with Guo Hanyu to defeat Gabriela Dabrowski and Luisa Stefani 6-3, 7-5 in the Wimbledon final on Sunday. The victory adds to Mladenovic’s prolific resume in doubles, as she has previously claimed the French Open doubles title four times and the Australian Open doubles title twice, though Wimbledon has eluded her until now. This win marks a notable milestone for her and comes after a season in which she endured a setback due to injury, missing much of the previous year. “It’s really a dream,” the French veteran said. “I definitely cannot believe what just happened now.”
Mladenovic and Guo began their partnership only this year, making their success at Wimbledon all the more remarkable. This title represents Guo Hanyu’s first Grand Slam triumph, a significant achievement for the 20-something Chinese player who has climbed the doubles ranks rapidly. The road to the trophy was not without its challenges, yet the pair found cohesion on the big stage, converting crucial moments into a straight-sets victory over a pair with substantial Wimbledon pedigree.
For Dabrowski, the loss extended her stranglehold on runners-up finishes at Wimbledon to three, adding to previous second-place finishes in 2019 and 2024. Despite the setback in London, she remains a formidable doubles competitor, with two U.S. Open doubles titles already adorning her career shelf. Her presence in the final underscored her consistency at major championships, even as she fell short this time around of lifting the Wimbledon trophy once again.
Stefani, meanwhile, was contesting her first Grand Slam doubles final, a milestone that signals the emergence of a new generation of doubles specialists contending for the sport’s biggest prizes. The 2024 runner-up finish for Dabrowski and Stefani’s first foray into a Grand Slam final offered a glimpse of their potential to contend for majors in the coming seasons.
The match on the grass courts at Wimbledon showcased a blend of tactical net play, aggressive returns, and disciplined teamwork. Mladenovic and Guo demonstrated strong serving and effective net coverage, frequently offsetting Dabrowski and Stefani’s power with well-placed serves and well-timed volleys. The early momentum swung in favor of the French-Chinese pairing, as they took the opening set 6-3 and then navigated a tighter second set to clinch it 7-5, sealing the victory in straight sets.
Mladenovic’s triumph adds to a storied career that has already featured multiple Grand Slam titles across different partners and surfaces. Her ability to adapt to a variety of partners and styles has been a hallmark of her doubles career, and this Wimbledon crown further cements her status as one of the sport’s most versatile doubles players. The partnership with Guo appears to be a fruitful one, at least in the short term, and it raises intriguing questions about how far they can push their collaboration in future majors.
Guo Hanyu, earning her first major doubles title, relished the moment and reflected on the experience of stepping onto the Wimbledon court with a seasoned veteran as her partner. Her breakthrough at Wimbledon sets the stage for potential continued success on the tour, as she harnesses the momentum and confidence that comes with a Grand Slam victory.
The doubles landscape in women’s tennis continues to evolve, with established veterans mixing with rising stars as they chase major titles. Wimbledon’s grass-court spectacle again produced a compelling chapter in the ongoing story of women’s doubles, delivering excitement, dramatic moments, and a championship that will be remembered by fans for years to come. Mladenovic’s seventh Slam doubles title and Guo’s first mark a new highlight in a season that has already offered a mix of triumphs and setbacks for players across the circuit.