David Wagner Wins  Quad Doubles in Paris

American David Wagner added another Grand Slam title to his expansive trophy case on Friday in Paris, partnering Sam Schroder of the Netherlands to win the Quad doubles title at the French Open.

Avenging a three-set defeat at last month's US Open where they won the first set but were beaten in the third, Wagner and Schroder rallied from a set and a break down to defeat world No. 1 Dylan Alcott of Australia and Great Britian's Andy Lapthorne in a match tiebreak, 4-6, 7-5, 10-8. 

After losing the first four games of the final in short order, Wagner and Schroder worked impressively to get back into contention, and ultimately pulled off a thrilling comeback in a match that lasted one hour and 41 minutes. 

From 6-4, 5-3 down, Wagner and Schroder won four straight games to send the match to a deciding tiebreak, in which they also came from 5-3 and 7-5 behind to win it all. 

With the Quad division having debuted at the French Open last year, the 46-year-old American legend has now won the doubles title in both of its editions, partnering Alcott to win the crown a year ago. 

With his first Grand Slam title of 2020 after runner-up finishes in doubles in both Melbourne and New York, Wagner increases his overall title of major titles won to 25, including 19 in doubles. He has won at least one Slam in either singles or doubles in every year dating back to 2012.

“We want to thank Roland Garros for having the Quad division represented for the second year in a row. We greatly appreciate that,” Wagner said after the match.

“It’s an honor to be here... I look forward to coming back next year to try and play my best tennis again. We’ll do what we can to increase our draw size for the Quad division. Let’s keep growing the game.”

In the singles draw, Wagner was beaten in a three-set semifinal by No. 2 seed Lapthorne on Thursday, 6-3, 2-6, 6-3, and lost a 6-4, 6-3, third-place match to his doubles partner earlier in the day on Friday.

(Photo: David Wagner and Sam Schroder during the French Open trophy ceremony. Credit: Loic Wacziak/FFT)