2012 French Open
The 2012 French Open was the second Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year, held on outdoor red clay courts at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France, from 27 May to 11 June 2012.[1][2] It featured the world's top players competing for titles in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles across multiple categories. In the men's singles, Spain's Rafael Nadal captured a record seventh title, defeating world No. 1 Novak Djokovic of Serbia 6–4, 6–3, 2–6, 7–5 in a final delayed by rain and completed on Monday, marking the first time the men's final extended to a second day.[3][2] In the women's singles, Russia's Maria Sharapova defeated Italy's Sara Errani 6–3, 6–2 to win her first French Open title and complete a career Grand Slam, becoming the 10th woman to achieve the feat.[4][5] The tournament showcased intense competition and historic moments beyond the finals. Nadal's victory extended his unbeaten streak at Roland Garros to 21 matches and solidified his dominance on clay, while Djokovic, seeking his first French Open title, fought valiantly despite the interruption.[6] Sharapova's win propelled her back to the world No. 1 ranking, ending a four-year absence from the top spot.[7] In doubles events, Belarus's Max Mirnyi and Canada's Daniel Nestor defended their men's title with a 6–4, 6–4 victory over American twins Bob and Mike Bryan, securing their second consecutive French Open crown.[8] Italy's Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci claimed the women's doubles title, rallying past Russia's Maria Kirilenko and Nadia Petrova 4–6, 6–4, 6–2 for their first Grand Slam as a pair.[9] The mixed doubles was won by India's Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi, who defeated Poland's Klaudia Jans and Mexico's Santiago Gonzalez 7–6(3), 6–1 to earn their second major together.[10] Several upsets and marathon matches defined the event's drama. In one of the biggest shocks, France's Virginie Razzano, ranked No. 111, stunned 13-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams in the first round, 4–6, 7–6(7–5), 6–3, her first first-round loss in a Grand Slam tournament and earliest career exit at a major.[2] Another highlight was Paul-Henri Mathieu's grueling five-set win over John Isner, 6–7(2–7), 6–4, 6–4, 3–6, 18–16, lasting 5 hours and 41 minutes—the second-longest match in French Open history at the time.[2] The tournament also launched "Roland Garros in Beijing," an initiative that engaged 93,000 participants in China, expanding the event's global reach.[2]Background and Overview
Dates and Venue
The 2012 French Open, the 111th edition of the tournament and the second Grand Slam event of the year, was held from 27 May to 11 June at Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France.[2] The men's singles final extended to 11 June due to rain delays, marking the first time since 1973 that it was played on a Monday.[2] Stade Roland Garros, the traditional home of the French Open since 1928, spans 8.5 hectares and featured 20 courts during the 2012 tournament, including three main stadium courts.[11] Court Philippe-Chatrier, with a capacity of approximately 15,000, served as the primary show court for high-profile matches. The event drew a total attendance of 430,093 spectators over its duration, reflecting strong public interest in the clay-court major.Surface and Tournament Format
The 2012 French Open was played on outdoor red clay courts at Stade Roland Garros in Paris, a surface renowned for its slower pace compared to grass or hard courts, which allows the ball to skid less and produce a higher bounce upon landing.[12] This clay composition, made from crushed brick, promotes longer rallies and rewards defensive play, endurance, and topspin-heavy strokes, as the friction reduces ball speed by up to 20-30% relative to faster surfaces.[13][14] The tournament followed standard Grand Slam formats, with men's singles matches contested as best-of-five sets and women's singles, as well as all doubles events (men's, women's, and mixed), played as best-of-three sets.[15] Tiebreaks were employed in all sets reaching 6-6, using a first-to-seven-points format with a two-point margin required to win, except in the deciding fifth set of men's singles, where no tiebreak was used and play continued as an advantage set until one player led by two games.[16] This no-tiebreak rule in the final set emphasized stamina on the demanding clay surface.[17] Draw sizes adhered to Grand Slam conventions, featuring 128 players in each singles main draw (64 men and 64 women) and 64 teams in each doubles draw.[15][18] Matches were scheduled across multiple courts, including the main Philippe-Chatrier Court (capacity around 15,000) and Suzanne-Lenglen Court (around 9,000), plus several outer courts, with daily play typically starting at 11:00 or 12:00 local time and continuing until dusk, accommodating over 500 total matches across all events including qualifiers.[19][20]Administration
Prize Money
The total prize pool for the 2012 French Open amounted to €18.7 million, equivalent to approximately $24.6 million USD at prevailing exchange rates.[21] This represented a 7% increase from the previous year, with a focus on boosting payouts for early-round participants to better cover travel and accommodation costs.[22] In the singles events, both men's and women's champions received €1.25 million each, maintaining the tournament's policy of equal prize money for top finishers in these categories since 2006.[23] First-round losers in singles earned €18,000, a 20% increase from €15,000 in 2011, reflecting efforts to support lower-ranked players.[24] Subsequent rounds scaled upward progressively, with runner-ups receiving €625,000. For doubles competitions, winning teams split €340,000, while runner-ups shared €170,000, with amounts per player depending on team splits.[25] Mixed doubles followed a similar structure at a lower tier, with winners earning €100,000 per team. Wheelchair events offered reduced purses, such as €15,000 for singles champions, and legends exhibitions provided modest awards scaled to participation. Junior tournaments did not distribute prize money, prioritizing ranking points instead.[26] All prizes were disbursed in euros, subject to French tax regulations, including withholding taxes on earnings for non-resident players, which varied by nationality and tax treaties but could reach up to 33% in some cases.[27]Ranking Points Distribution
The 2012 French Open awarded ranking points according to the established systems of the ATP for men's events, the WTA for women's events, the ITF for junior and wheelchair competitions, and shared ATP/WTA allocations for mixed doubles, reflecting the tournament's status as a Grand Slam with the highest point values among professional tennis events. These points contributed to players' 52-week rolling rankings, emphasizing deep advancement in the draw as a key driver for career progression and qualification for subsequent tournaments. Unlike lower-tier events such as ATP 250s (up to 250 points for winners) or WTA Internationals (up to 280 points), Grand Slams provided exponentially higher rewards to incentivize top performance on clay at Roland Garros.Men's Singles (ATP)
Points were distributed based on round reached in the 128-player draw, with the winner earning the maximum allocation to reflect the event's prestige.| Round Reached | Points |
|---|---|
| Winner | 2000 |
| Runner-up | 1200 |
| Semifinals | 720 |
| Quarterfinals | 360 |
| Round of 16 | 180 |
| Round of 32 | 90 |
| Round of 64 | 45 |
| First round (Round of 128) | 10 |
Women's Singles (WTA)
The WTA system in 2012 mirrored the ATP's top allocation but featured a distinct scale for intermediate rounds in the 128-player draw, awarding 2000 points to the champion.| Round Reached | Points |
|---|---|
| Winner | 2000 |
| Runner-up | 1400 |
| Semifinals | 900 |
| Quarterfinals | 500 |
| Round of 16 | 280 |
| Round of 32 | 160 |
| Round of 64 | 100 |
| First round (Round of 128) | 5 |
Doubles and Mixed Doubles (ATP/WTA)
Men's and women's doubles followed a 64-player draw with points scaled similarly to singles but adjusted for fewer rounds, awarding 2000 to winners; mixed doubles used the same distribution, contributing to both ATP and WTA doubles rankings. No points were awarded for the legends exhibition events.| Round Reached | Points (per player) |
|---|---|
| Winners | 2000 |
| Runners-up | 1200 |
| Semifinals | 720 |
| Quarterfinals | 360 |
| Round of 16 | 180 |
| Round of 32 | 90 |
| First round (Round of 64) | 10 |
Junior Events (ITF)
Junior singles and doubles operated under the separate ITF World Junior Rankings, with the French Open Junior Championships classified as a Grade A event offering elevated points compared to lower grades (e.g., Grade 1 winners receive 375). The 64-player singles draw awarded points as follows, focusing on under-18 development.| Round Reached (Singles) | Points |
|---|---|
| Winner | 250 |
| Runner-up | 180 |
| Semifinals | 120 |
| Quarterfinals | 80 |
| Round of 16 | 50 |
| Round of 32 | 30 |
Wheelchair Events (ITF)
Wheelchair tennis rankings were managed by the ITF, with the French Open as a Grand Slam-level Super Series event providing the maximum points (800 for singles winners, higher than the 400 for quad singles). Draws were smaller (8-player singles), emphasizing elite competition.| Round Reached (Singles) | Points |
|---|---|
| Winner | 800 |
| Runner-up | 500 |
| Semifinals | 300 |
| Quarterfinals | 150 |
| First round | 75 |
Entry and Qualification
Qualifiers
The qualifying rounds for the 2012 French Open took place from 21 to 26 May 2012 at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France.[28] These pre-tournament events determined 16 spots each in the men's and women's singles main draws.[15] Both the men's and women's singles qualifying draws featured 128 players competing in a three-round format, with all matches played as best-of-three sets on clay courts. Sixteen players were seeded in each draw to protect higher-ranked competitors from early matchups against one another. The qualifiers were held on the outer courts of Roland Garros, providing players an opportunity to acclimate to the tournament's conditions ahead of the main draw.[29] In the men's singles, 16 players advanced to the main draw, including notable entrants such as Estonia's Jürgen Zopp, who earned his first Grand Slam main draw appearance, and France's Kenny de Schepper, a home favorite who progressed through the rounds.[30][31] Other successful qualifiers included Germany's Cedrik-Marcel Stebe and Slovakia's Martin Kližan.[32] The women's singles qualifiers also saw 16 players advance, with standout performances from the Netherlands' Kiki Bertens, who navigated the draw convincingly, and Kazakhstan's Yaroslava Shvedova, marking a significant step in her career.[25] Additional qualifiers included Chinese Taipei's Chan Yung-jan and the United States' Alexa Glatch, highlighting the competitive depth of the field.[25]Wildcard Entries
The 2012 French Open, organized by the French Tennis Federation, allocated eight wildcards for the men's singles main draw and eight for the women's singles main draw, consistent with Grand Slam protocols to provide discretionary entries beyond direct qualification or ranking. Four wildcards were also granted each for men's doubles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles, typically favoring national teams or promising pairs. These invitations aimed to balance competitive integrity with opportunities for emerging talents, veterans, and local representation. In men's singles, wildcards went to French players including Paul-Henri Mathieu, returning from injury, and other recipients such as veterans Arnaud Clément and Adrian Mannarino, along with Éric Prodon, Guillaume Rufin, and Jonathan Dasnières de Veigy. Additional wildcards were awarded to American Brian Baker, who secured his spot via the inaugural USTA Roland Garros Wild Card Challenge after seven years sidelined by injuries, and former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt of Australia.[33][34] For women's singles, French recipients featured Pauline Parmentier, a consistent performer on clay, along with young prospects like Kristina Mladenovic and Caroline Garcia, while Melanie Oudin earned the U.S. wildcard through the same challenge format, rewarding her strong showings on the USTA Pro Circuit. Criteria emphasized national interest—prioritizing French athletes to enhance crowd engagement—and rehabilitation cases, such as Baker's comeback narrative. These wildcards injected diversity into the draws by including players outside the top 100 rankings, such as unranked Baker and lower-ranked French hopefuls, fostering a mix of experience, youth, and international flavor that highlighted the tournament's role in nurturing global talent pipelines.Seeds
The seeds for the 2012 French Open singles competitions were assigned according to the official ATP and WTA rankings released on May 21, 2012, the Monday prior to the tournament draw.[28] A total of 32 players were seeded in both the men's and women's singles draws to help distribute top-ranked competitors evenly and minimize early-round clashes among favorites. No seeds were designated for the doubles or mixed doubles events. In the men's singles, world No. 1 Novak Djokovic of Serbia received the top seed, followed by Rafael Nadal of Spain at No. 2, reflecting their strong performances earlier in the clay-court season. The full list of top seeds highlighted a mix of established stars and rising contenders, as shown below.
For the women's singles, Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, the world No. 1, was awarded the No. 1 seed, with Maria Sharapova of Russia at No. 2 after her strong showings on clay leading into the event. The seeding emphasized recent form on the surface, with several former champions included among the top ranks.
| Seed | Player | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Victoria Azarenka | Belarus |
| 2 | Maria Sharapova | Russia |
| 3 | Agnieszka Radwańska | Poland |
| 4 | Petra Kvitová | Czech Republic |
| 5 | Serena Williams | United States |
| 6 | Samantha Stosur | Australia |
| 7 | Caroline Wozniacki | Denmark |
| 8 | Li Na | China |
Protected Rankings and Withdrawals
In the 2012 French Open, protected rankings allowed players who had been sidelined by long-term injuries to enter the main draw based on their pre-injury standings, provided they met the ATP and WTA criteria of at least six months out of competition. In the men's singles, two players utilized this provision: Germany's Benjamin Becker, who had missed significant time due to a wrist injury and entered at his protected ranking of No. 68, and Uruguay's Pablo Cuevas, returning from a hip issue with a protected ranking of No. 54.[39] These entries ensured that experienced players could compete without needing to qualify, though neither advanced beyond the first round. Pre-tournament withdrawals significantly altered the field, with eight players pulling out before the main draw began on May 27. On the men's side, top-10 seed Mardy Fish of the United States withdrew due to ongoing fatigue issues, opening his spot to Canadian qualifier Frank Dancevic as an alternate; former finalist Robin Söderling of Sweden cited his recovery from mononucleosis; and Gael Monfils of France, a strong clay-court contender, withdrew on May 24 with a right knee injury that sidelined him for three weeks.[40][41] In women's singles, No. 15 seed Andrea Petkovic of Germany withdrew because of a right ankle injury sustained earlier in the season, replaced by Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko; other absences included No. 18 Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia, Agnes Szavay of Hungary, and Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland, primarily due to injuries.[40] These changes had a notable impact on the draw and seeding. Fish's withdrawal as the highest-ranked absentee shifted seeding positions, promoting lower-ranked players like No. 11 Nicolás Almagro into a higher seed and creating opportunities for qualifiers and lucky losers to fill gaps. Similarly, Petkovic's exit adjusted the women's top half, easing paths for unseeded players like Sara Errani, who ultimately reached the final. Alternates such as Dancevic and Tsurenko entered directly but faced tough early matchups, highlighting how such disruptions introduced unpredictability to an already competitive field on clay.[40]Senior Events
Men's Singles
The men's singles competition at the 2012 French Open culminated in Rafael Nadal securing his seventh title at Roland Garros, defeating world No. 1 Novak Djokovic 6–4, 6–3, 2–6, 7–5 in a rain-delayed final played over two days. This victory marked Nadal's record-extending seventh French Open crown, surpassing Björn Borg's previous men's record of six, and extended his career Grand Slam titles to 12. The match, lasting over four hours on court, highlighted Nadal's dominance on clay, where he improved his head-to-head record against Djokovic to 19–14 overall and 4–1 at Roland Garros. In the final, Nadal committed 29 unforced errors compared to Djokovic's 53, while both players landed 73 first serves, underscoring the intense baseline rallies that defined the encounter.[42][43] The draw featured a competitive field of 128 players, with top seeds advancing amid several tense battles. Defending champion Nadal, seeded second, progressed steadily, dropping just one set en route to the semifinals, while Djokovic, on a 27-match winning streak entering the tournament, faced his sternest test in the fourth round against No. 22 Andreas Seppi, rallying from two sets down to win 4–6, 6–7(5), 6–3, 7–5, 6–3. In the quarterfinals, Djokovic eliminated No. 3 Roger Federer 6–4, 7–5, 6–3, ending Federer's bid for a sixth French Open semifinal; Jo-Wilfried Tsonga defeated No. 18 Stanislas Wawrinka 6–4, 6–4, 6–3; Nadal overcame compatriot No. 12 Nicolas Almagro 7–6(4), 6–2, 6–3; and No. 6 David Ferrer upset No. 4 Andy Murray 6–4, 6–7(3), 6–3, 6–2 to reach his first Roland Garros semifinal.[44][45][46] The semifinals showcased contrasting styles: Djokovic saved four match points in a five-set thriller against hometown favorite Tsonga, prevailing 6–1, 5–7, 5–7, 7–6(6), 6–1 to reach his first French Open final, while Nadal dismantled Ferrer 6–2, 6–2, 6–1 in straight sets, conceding just five games. Several retirements occurred during the tournament, including No. 21 Fabio Fognini withdrawing against Adrian Mannarino in the first round due to injury, and minor incidents in early rounds such as Adrian Ungur's match against David Nalbandian. Overall, the event reinforced clay-court mastery as a key factor, with Nadal's 59th career title solidifying his status as the "King of Clay."[47]Women's Singles
Maria Sharapova won the women's singles title at the 2012 French Open, defeating 21st-seeded Sara Errani 6–3, 6–2 in the final to secure her first Roland Garros championship.[5] The victory marked Sharapova's fourth Grand Slam singles title and completed her career Grand Slam, making her the 10th woman in the Open Era to win all four major tournaments.[4] Played on June 9, 2012, the final lasted 89 minutes, with Sharapova dominating from the baseline and converting five of eight break-point opportunities while Errani struggled with her serve, committing 11 unforced errors to Sharapova's 29.[48] The tournament featured several notable upsets, highlighting the unpredictability of the draw on the clay courts of Roland Garros. Defending champion Li Na, seeded 9th, was stunned in the fourth round by qualifier Yaroslava Shvedova 3–6, 6–2, 6–0, in a match where Li committed 41 unforced errors.[49] World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka exited in the fourth round as well, losing to 15th-seeded Dominika Cibulková 6–2, 7–6(4) amid windy conditions that disrupted play.[50] The most shocking result came in the first round, where five-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams fell to unranked French wild card Virginie Razzano 4–6, 7–6(5), 6–3, marking Williams' first opening-round loss at a major.[51] These upsets opened pathways for lower seeds like Errani, who entered the tournament on a strong clay-court form after winning three titles earlier in the year. Errani's improbable run to her first Grand Slam final showcased her defensive prowess and endurance on clay. As the 21st seed, she navigated a tough draw, defeating 13th-seeded Ana Ivanovic 1–6, 7–5, 6–3 in the third round, 26th-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova 6–0, 7–5 in the fourth, 10th-seeded Angelique Kerber 6–3, 7–6(2) in the quarterfinals, and 6th-seeded Samantha Stosur 7–5, 1–6, 6–3 in the semifinals.[52] Sharapova, the 2nd seed, dropped just one set en route to the title, overcoming early-round opponent Alexandra Cadanțu 6–0, 6–0, qualifier Klara Koukalová 6–4, 6–7(5), 6–2 in a 3-hour, 11-minute fourth-round battle, 23rd-seeded Kaia Kanepi 6–2, 6–3 in the quarterfinals, and 4th-seeded Petra Kvitová 6–3, 6–3 in the semifinals.[53] The event saw two retirements in the first round: American Jamie Hampton withdrew against Arantxa Rus due to a back injury while leading, and Slovak Magdalena Rybáriková retired against Jarmila Gajdošová with a lumbar spine issue at 1–4 in the second set.[54][25] Overall, the women's draw emphasized resilience on the slow clay surface, with Sharapova's powerful game proving decisive in claiming the €1.25 million prize.[2]Men's Doubles
The men's doubles competition at the 2012 French Open saw top seeds Max Mirnyi of Belarus and Daniel Nestor of Canada successfully defend their title, marking Nestor's third consecutive victory at Roland Garros in the discipline. In the final on June 9, they defeated second seeds Bob and Mike Bryan of the United States 6–4, 6–4, denying the American twins a record-extending 12th Grand Slam doubles crown.[8][55] The victory improved Mirnyi and Nestor's partnership record at the event to 19–2 and highlighted their dominance on clay, where Nestor's net play complemented Mirnyi's powerful serving. The draw featured competitive action with a key upset in the quarterfinals, where third seeds Michaël Llodra of France and Nenad Zimonjić of Serbia were forced to retire injured at 1–2 in the second set against tenth seeds Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi of Pakistan and Jean-Julien Rojer of the Netherlands, following a 6–4 first-set loss.[56] The Bryan brothers advanced by overcoming Oliver Marach of Austria and Horacio Zeballos of Argentina 6–1, 4–6, 6–4, while Mirnyi and Nestor progressed straightforwardly past unseeded Matthew Ebden of Australia and Ryan Harrison of the United States 6–4, 6–4. Fourteenth seeds Daniele Bracciali and Potito Starace, both of Italy, caused another surprise by defeating eighth seeds Ivan Dodig of Croatia and Marcelo Melo of Brazil 6–2, 6–4 to reach the semifinals.[57] In the semifinals, Mirnyi and Nestor continued their strong form, dispatching Bracciali and Starace 6–3, 6–4 without dropping serve, while the Bryans secured their final berth with a 6–3, 7–6(6) win over Qureshi and Rojer, prevailing in a tight second-set tiebreak.[58] The tournament employed no-ad scoring for all games across its best-of-five-set format, with tiebreaks at 6–6 in every set to expedite play on the slower clay surface; the only tiebreak in the later stages occurred in the Bryans' semifinal, underscoring the event's efficiency with no match exceeding three sets in the quarterfinals or beyond.Women's Doubles
The women's doubles competition at the 2012 French Open featured 64 teams competing in a knockout format on clay courts at Roland Garros, with the final held on June 8. Fourth seeds Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci of Italy claimed the title, defeating seventh seeds Maria Kirilenko and Nadia Petrova of Russia 4–6, 6–4, 6–2 in the championship match. This victory marked the duo's first Grand Slam doubles title and made Errani the first woman since Kim Clijsters in 2003 to reach both the singles and doubles finals at the tournament, following her appearance in the singles final the next day.[59][60] Errani and Vinci's path to the title included straight-sets wins over Alberta Brianti/Patricia Mayr-Achleitner in the first round (6–1, 6–1), Vania King/Olga Govortsova in the second (6–3, 6–2), and Akgul Amanmuradova/Chanelle Scheepers in the quarterfinals (6–4, 6–2). They advanced to the final by upsetting third seeds Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina 6–4, 6–4 in the semifinals, showcasing strong baseline play and tactical consistency that contrasted the power-oriented style of their opponents. The Italian pair, who had reached the semifinals at the previous year's French Open, became the first all-Italian team to win a major doubles crown, earning €340,000 in prize money.[61][25] Other seeded teams progressed variably, with second seeds Květa Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik exiting in the quarterfinals to Kirilenko/Petrova 7–5, 6–3, while top seeds Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond fell in the second round to Monica Niculescu and Alexandra Cadanțu 6–3, 3–6, 6–4, highlighting several upsets in the draw. Kirilenko and Petrova, who had won the 2012 Brussels Open together earlier that year, reached the final after defeating Vania King and Yaroslava Shvedova 6–3, 6–4 in the semifinals and earlier overcoming the defending champions Andrea Hlaváčková and Lucie Hradecká 6–4, 6–4 in the quarterfinals. The event saw two retirements: Flavia Pennetta and Francesca Schiavone in the first round against Edina Gallovits-Hall and Nina Bratchikova (leading 6–4, 3–1), and Latisha Chan and Alla Kudryavtseva in the third round against Halep/Wozniak (leading 6–3, 1–0); additionally, Irina-Camelia Begu and Alexa Glatch received a walkover in the second round due to opponents' withdrawal. The Italian champions drew significant crowd support, fueled by Errani's strong singles performance and the duo's synchronized clay-court affinity.[61]Mixed Doubles
The mixed doubles competition at the 2012 French Open was played as a best-of-three sets format on outdoor clay courts at Stade Roland Garros, with a 10-point match tiebreak replacing a full third set if necessary. Seeded teams received byes into the second round in the 48-team draw, emphasizing quick transitions and strategic partnerships between male and female players. The event featured notable upsets in the later stages, including the elimination of top seeds and the advancement of unseeded pairs to the final. The seventh-seeded Indian duo of Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi dominated the tournament, winning all five of their matches in straight sets without dropping a single set. In the first round, they defeated Americans Raquel Kops-Jones and Eric Butorac 6–2, 6–4. The second round saw them overcome French wild cards Virginie Razzano and Nicolas Devilder 7–6(5), 6–3. A key upset came in the quarterfinals, where Mirza and Bhupathi stunned the second seeds, Czech Republic's Květa Peschke and American Mike Bryan, 6–2, 6–3, showcasing strong baseline play and effective net coverage on clay.[62][63] In the semifinals, Mirza and Bhupathi continued their form by defeating Kazakhstan's Galina Voskoboeva and Italy's Daniele Bracciali 6–4, 6–2, maintaining high serve hold percentages above 85% across the match.[62] The final pitted them against unseeded runners-up Klaudia Jans-Ignacik of Poland and Santiago González of Mexico, who had pulled off their own upset by defeating fifth seeds Elena Vesnina and Leander Paes of Russia and India, respectively, 7–6(7–2), 6–3 in the semifinals after Vesnina/Paes had earlier ousted top seeds Liezel Huber and Max Mirnyi. Mirza and Bhupathi clinched the title 7–6(7–3), 6–1 in 1 hour and 13 minutes, marking their second Grand Slam mixed doubles victory together and India's first in this discipline at Roland Garros.[64][65][66]| Round | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|
| First Round | Raquel Kops-Jones / Eric Butorac (USA) | 6–2, 6–4 |
| Second Round | Virginie Razzano / Nicolas Devilder (FRA) | 7–6(5), 6–3 |
| Quarterfinals | Květa Peschke / Mike Bryan (CZE/USA, 2nd seeds) | 6–2, 6–3 |
| Semifinals | Galina Voskoboeva / Daniele Bracciali (KAZ/ITA) | 6–4, 6–2 |
| Final | Klaudia Jans-Ignacik / Santiago González (POL/MEX) | 7–6(7–3), 6–1 |