The legacy of Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah goes far past their outcomes on court docket; the 345 doubles matches they received collectively on the ATP Tour, their 19 titles —together with two Grand Slams— and turning into the World’s No. 1 duo in 2019. The most important impression the Colombians have had was their dedication to working collectively in a self-discipline by which lengthy partnerships are uncommon.
“The primary time I met Sebas, we have been 5 years outdated. We began taking part in in the identical metropolis. We grew up collectively and ended up experiencing numerous issues collectively,” defined Farah. “The one others with an analogous backstory are the Bryan brothers. The distinction being that we fashioned a brotherhood alongside the best way and, due to arduous work, a scarcity of ego between us, and never arguing over trivialities, we managed to have a profitable partnership.”
It’s a miracle that they ever crossed paths within the first place. Robert was born in Montreal, Canada, the place his dad and mom Patrick and Eva had settled after fleeing the Lebanese civil conflict. The truth that the Farah Makssoud household ended up in Cali, Colombia, was primarily attributable to a vacation they took within the late eighties. They ended up staying there, Patrick as a tennis coach and Eva as a trainer.
It was in Cali the place future introduced Robert and Juan Sebastian collectively. They met at a neighborhood event for under-eights. They performed on adjoining courts within the first spherical and each of them beat older gamers. “That’s after I realised the potential they each had,” remembers Patrick, who would finally change into coach to the 2 of them.
They quickly discovered themselves on the alternative aspect of the web, at a event in the identical metropolis. Cabal made probably the most of his one-year age benefit over Robert. Not solely did he win that match, but in addition each one they’d play for a while to come back. Robert used to cry after these defeats. “They have been very tense matches, however they got here by means of them and continued to be pals,” added Patrick. At twelve, across the time that noticed Farah’s first victory between them, they performed their first occasion as a duo. They turned heads from the beginning.
“I keep in mind the primary doubles match I performed towards them,” mentioned Santiago Giraldo, former World No. 28. “It was in Medellin, in 1998. They simply beat my teammate and I. I keep in mind Sebas hitting a ‘tweener’ winner towards us that day. They have been so good!”
In addition to being larger than the sum of their elements on court docket, Cabal and Farah saved constructing on a friendship that proved proof against the perils of their rivalry in singles, the potential difficulties of dwelling collectively in Bogota, and the gap when Robert accepted a scholarship to check on the College of Southern California, adopted by over a decade of taking part in collectively on the ATP Tour.
Since making their debut on Tour as a duo, successful within the first spherical of Wimbledon in 2011, they’ve by no means been aside. Though they’d each play the odd event with different companions, significantly when the opposite was injured, taking part in collectively was their precedence ever for the reason that concept got here to them in 2009.
Cabal & Farah Announce Retirement: ‘It is Exhausting To Say Goodbye’
That 12 months, on the marriage ceremony of Colombian former tennis participant Pablo Gonzalez, Cabal and Farah determined they’d type what turned out to be one of the vital steady partnerships in recent times on tour. It was Robert’s concept, he was just a few months wanting graduating from college and wished one other shot at turning skilled.
In 2010, they started their journey collectively on the ITF Futures and ATP Challenger Excursions. When their rating was excessive sufficient to enter ATP Tour attracts —largely due to a runners-up end for Cabal on the 2011 French Open— they turned virtually inseparable. Their dedication to fixed teamwork bore numerous fruits, together with the 2019 Wimbledon title.
“Essentially the most wonderful second of our careers was successful Wimbledon, due to that we turned the No. 1. That was the proof that processes bear outcomes,” mirrored Cabal, and Farah backed him up: “You’ll be able to’t win a Grand Slam from sooner or later to the following. [Carlos] Alcaraz did it at 18 years of age, however we’re extra mortal and it took us over 30. Due to God, we ended up successful one other one.”
Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah win Wimbledon in 2019.” />Juan Sebastian Cabal (left) and Robert Farah win Wimbledon in 2019. Credit score: Shaun Botterill/Getty Photos
Their second main title would come later that season, on the 2019 US Open. The truth that they reached at the least the semi-finals at Grand Slams ten instances is additional indication of their consistency on the largest occasions of all. In addition they received two ATP Masters 1000 (Rome 2018 and 2019) and reached the semi-finals in two of their three Nitto ATP Finals participations.
The bodily put on and tear of a lot time preventing for the most important prizes introduced ahead their retirement. They introduced it in August, pleased with the file they would depart behind. “We’ve accomplished our time and we’re content material as we depart,” mentioned Cabal, 37. “We’re leaving with large gratitude for every thing tennis gave us,” added Farah, 36. Within the final US Open they performed their remaining ATP Tour match (l. to Koolhof/Skupski within the second spherical).
Final week, they have been set to play the Challenger occasion in Bogota as their final event. Ultimately, they have been unable to take part, attributable to minor accidents, however the homages are flooding in, and they’re going to proceed to take action.
Though they haven’t written off a return to tennis in some type – comparable to teaching –, for now they’re solely fascinated about resting with their households. It’s extremely possible that they’ll accomplish that collectively. In any case, their farewell to tennis doesn’t imply goodbye to at least one one other. “He hasn’t been a buddy for a while, he’s household,” defined Cabal. “We’re solely ending knowledgeable journey.” Farah agreed: “Sebas is a brother to me. His kids name me Uncle Rob. My daughter calls him uncle too. Our paths might be united for our complete lives.”
