Cabal & Farah On US Open Title: ‘We Just Won Our Second Grand Slam!’

Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah embrace in a hug. The Colombians have just lifted their second Grand Slam championship in three months — something almost unimaginable a few months ago.

By defeating Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos 6-4, 7-5 in the men’s doubles final of the US Open on Friday, the top seeds clinched their fifth title of the season and solidified their position as the top team in the ATP Doubles Race To London in the process.

After making their rounds and handling media duties in the underbelly of Arthur Ashe Stadium, the newly crowned champions sat down to discuss their most recent victory and what’s next with ATPTour.com.

ATPTour.com: One of the most emotional moments of the final was when Jacobo [Cabal’s son] stepped on to the court just after your victory.
Farah: Maybe he should come to all our matches from now on! (Laughs)
Cabal: (Joking) That sounds like a good idea; studying, all that, might have to wait, if we want to keep winning (Laughs). He’s like our amulet now.

ATPTour.com: Like a lucky charm?
Cabal: (Laughs) No, no, I’m just kidding. But seriously, he likes to run on to the court, give us a hug and be around us, and seeing him happy makes us happy. I have no words to describe how happy I am as a father and winning this for my son. I know Robert feels the same way.

ATPTour.com: What was the first thing you guys said to one another immediately after the win?
Farah: Sebas, we just won our second Grand Slam!
Cabal: We dedicated our win to Roberto Cocheteux, founder of Colsanitas tennis club and an ambassador of the sport in our country. [Cocheteux passed away 20 August 2019].

ATPTour.com: What are the differences between winning at Flushing Meadows and capturing the title at Wimbledon?
Farah: I get the feeling that the Wimbledon win created a bit more commotion, as it was contested on a Saturday and more people probably tuned in to watch. It also lasted almost five hours. But winning [in New York] will clearly create a stir and garner a lot of attention. I mean, it’s the US Open!

ATPTour.com: And emotionally?
Cabal: They’re different. From the quarter-finals on, it was one battle after another at Wimbledon and we were averaging around four hours on the court each match. On top of that, it was our first victory as a team in a Grand Slam final. The first one is always the toughest and the one that takes its toll emotionally, but both are very special to us. We’re still processing the win here; that has yet to settle in. Both victories have their own traits and distinctions that make them special… winning in front of family, friends, our teams. Honestly, we can say we’re titleholders of two great championships, the last two majors of the year, and it’s amazing. Everything that’s happening is all very crazy.

ATPTour.com: How were you received upon your return to Colombia after winning at Wimbledon?
Cabal: Colombia expressed its love for us; they showered us with love. The people were with us all the way; they suffered through each round with us and ultimately celebrated with us. All of this makes us proud and pushes us to continue bringing joy to our supporters and providing them with reasons to celebrate.

ATPTour.com: In your victory speeches, you’re always sure to thank Colombia and the people of your nation.
Cabal: We are very proud of the love we receive. We have said it again and again. This is for them, so we want them to enjoy it as much as we do. This win is for all of Colombia.

ATPTour.com: Do you get the feeling that all these victories will somehow become the norm, or expected of you?
Cabal: I don’t know! (Laughs) All I know is we’re achieving great things and raising our profile as a team but that’s part of the job. We’re playing matches, having fun and doing what we enjoy for a living.
Farah: We value the hard work more than the victory itself. The wins are a result of the work we put into this process. If you were to live with us, you’d see everything that goes into this: our strict diet, the training, the rehydrating, the rest, the mental fortitude. We see our goal as something we can attain through this strong work ethic. And now we’re seeing the results in two consecutive Grand Slams.

ATPTour.com: You might not say it, but it would be fair for you to claim you’re the best doubles team in the world and that isn’t by chance.
Farah: Rafa [Nadal], Roger [Federer], [Novak] Djokovic… all three are examples of humility, hard work and great success, and that sets the tone for us.

ATPTour.com: Among future objectives, you admit that the Nitto ATP Finals is high priority.
Cabal: That tournament is like the cherry on top. It’s the Disney World of tennis; it’s a unique event. It would be a wonderful title to claim and we’ll be competing again this year. Believe me when I say we’ll do everything in our power to claim that title.

ATPTour.com: Finally, how will you be celebrating your big win in New York?
Farah: We’ll leave that decision up to …
Cabal: Jacobo! (Laughs)