Babos/Mladenovic v Makarova/Vesnina

Just the small matter of history on the line today for Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina, as the talented Russian duo bid for the Golden Career Slam. Let’s explain that one: as a team, they have won Roland Garros (2013), US Open (2014), Olympic Gold (2016) and Wimbledon (2017), with the Australian Open the only major crown missing from their collection. 

Just five teams have completed the career Grand Slam in doubles in the Open Era: Kathy Jordan and Anne Smith, Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver, Gigi Fernandez and Natasha Zvereva, Serena and Venus Williams, and Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci. Of those, Serena and Venus are the only two to also win Olympic Gold together. Shriver and Fernandez did win doubles gold medals but with different partners. 

Timea Babos and Kiki Mladenovic are bidding for their first Grand Slam doubles title together, having finished runner-up at Wimbledon in 2014. Mladenovic has won a major title, however, teaming up with Caroline Garcia to win 2016 Roland Garros.