A Winning Partnership Continues to Shine

Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos,the formidable doubles team,have once again demonstrated their prowess on the court,securing victory at the Mutua Madrid Open. This win marks their second title in Madrid, having previously conquered the tournament in 2021. The year 2024 saw them ascend to the coveted number one ranking, solidifying their status as top contenders in the world of doubles tennis.

Their enduring partnership, which began in mid-2019, has proven to be a recipe for success, blending Granollers’ strategic play with Zeballos’ powerful baseline game.This victory adds another significant achievement to their already remarkable resume.

Dominating Performance in the Final

In a commanding performance, the Spanish-Argentinian duo defeated Marcelo Arévalo (El Salvador) and mate Pavic (croatia) in the final, with straight sets (6-4, 6-4). Arévalo and Pavic, who came to madrid as the top-ranked team, had previously won Roland Garros and Masters 1000 titles in Cincinnati, Indian Wells, and Miami over the past 12 months. Granollers and Zeballos delivered a thrilling victory for Spanish tennis fans, setting the stage for the women’s final between Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff.

The victory was notably sweet, considering the challenges they faced leading up to the tournament. After an early exit in the Australian Open due to Granollers’ injury,the pair had to face the top three ranked teams to win the title.

Triumph Over Adversity: An impeccable Run

This victory is a significant morale boost for the established duo. Despite not having won a Grand Slam title yet, the pair demonstrated resilience after a rocky start to the year, which included first-round defeats in the preceding three Masters 1000 events and granollers’ aforementioned injury that sidelined them from the Australian Open. Their path to the Madrid title was far from easy, requiring them to overcome the top-ranked teams in the competition. Remarkably, they achieved this feat without dropping a single set in all five of their matches.

granollers Joins Elite Company

The Madrid Open title represents the eighth Masters 1000 tournament win for the Granollers-Zeballos partnership and the tenth for Granollers individually. This achievement places the Barcelona native in an elite category, tying him with Croatia’s Nikola Mektic as the most decorated active player in Masters 1000 tournaments. This milestone underscores Granollers’ remarkable talent and longevity in the sport.

This win is a testament to our hard work and dedication.We’ve faced challenges this year, but we never gave up.
Horacio Zeballos, after the match

as of today, May 4, 2025, the ATP doubles rankings reflect the impact of this victory, with Granollers and Zeballos poised to climb even higher. Their consistent performance in major tournaments solidifies their position as one of the top doubles teams in the world.