PARIS — British tennis star Neal Skupski and his American mixed doubles partner Desirae Krawczyk fell short of securing a second consecutive French Open final appearance after a hard-fought semifinal defeat at Roland Garros. The duo, who claimed the 2023 title together, were ousted in straight sets by the unseeded pairing of Santiago González and Laura Siegemund, ending their hopes of back-to-back triumphs.
The match, played on Court Suzanne Lenglen, saw Skupski and Krawczyk struggle to find their rhythm against the aggressive net play of their opponents. Despite saving three match points in the second-set tiebreak, they ultimately succumbed 6-4, 7-6(5) in one hour and 42 minutes. "We had our chances but couldn't capitalize at the key moments," a visibly disappointed Skupski told reporters afterward.
Missed Opportunities
The semifinal loss marked a bitter end to what had been a promising campaign for the defending champions. Skupski and Krawczyk entered the tournament as second seeds, having won two titles together earlier in the season. Their chemistry was evident in earlier rounds, where they dropped just one set en route to the last four.
Key factors in their defeat included:
- First serve percentage dropping to 58% compared to their opponents' 72%
- Converting just 1 of 5 break point opportunities
- Committing 22 unforced errors to González/Siegemund's 14
Road to the Semifinals
The Anglo-American pair had shown impressive form throughout the fortnight:
- Straight-sets wins over Nys/Zielinski and Olmos/Arevalo
- A thrilling 10-8 match tiebreak victory against Koolhof/Demi in the quarters
- Perfect 3-0 record in tiebreaks before the semifinal
Skupski's Doubles Dilemma
The result adds to what has been a challenging clay season for Skupski in men's doubles as well. The world No. 5 in doubles suffered early exits with regular partner Wesley Koolhof at both Madrid and Rome before their quarterfinal run here. "It's been a tricky transition to clay this year," Skupski reflected. "We've had some good matches but haven't quite found the consistency we had last season."
Looking Ahead
Despite the disappointment, both players remain optimistic about their partnership. Krawczyk, a four-time Grand Slam mixed doubles champion, emphasized their strong track record: "Neal and I have great chemistry. We've won big tournaments before and we'll regroup for Wimbledon where the grass suits our games even better." The pair will indeed be among the favorites at SW19, where Skupski won the 2022 men's doubles title.
For Skupski, the focus now shifts to preparing for the grass season and defending his Wimbledon points. The 34-year-old Liverpudlian will also represent Great Britain in the upcoming Davis Cup tie against Belgium on June 14-15. "There's still so much to play for this season," he said. "This loss hurts but we'll learn from it and come back stronger."
The mixed doubles final will see González and Siegemund face off against the top-seeded pairing of Matthew Ebden and Ellen Perez. For Skupski and Krawczyk, their attention now turns to the grass season, where they'll aim to add to their collection of three Grand Slam titles together.
Tennis analysts noted that while the result was disappointing for the defending champions, it highlighted the unpredictable nature of mixed doubles. "In mixed, chemistry and momentum can shift so quickly," observed former champion Mark Woodforde. "Neal and Desirae are still one of the best pairs out there - today just wasn't their day."
As the tennis world turns its attention to the grass season, Skupski will be looking to bounce back quickly. With Wimbledon just weeks away, the British star has little time to dwell on what might have been in Paris. "That's tennis," he concluded philosophically. "You have to move on to the next challenge."