French duo Mahut, Herbert win doubles title at ATP Finals

French duo Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert won the doubles title at the ATP Finals for the first time on Sunday after going through the entire tournament without dropping a set.

Mahut and Herbert beat Raven Klaasen of South Africa and Michael Venus of New Zealand 6-3, 6-4 to complete a near-perfect week at the O2 Arena. The duo lost last year’s final to Mike Bryan and Jack Sock after a Champions tiebreaker that ended 13-11 to the Americans, failing to convert a match point along the way.

Mahut and Herbert were seeded seventh but were the only players — in singles or doubles — to win all three round-robin matches.

Pierre-Hugues Herbert of France, right, and Nicholas Mahut of France, second right, pose for the media with their winners trophy as Raven Klaasen of South Africa, left, and Michael Venus of New Zealand who hold their runners up plates as the pose for photographs, following their ATP World Finals final doubles tennis match at the O2 arena in London, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019. (AP PhotoKirsty Wigglesworth)

The French players also won the Australian Open this year to complete a career Grand Slam and were playing at the ATP finals for the fifth straight year.

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Pierre-Hugues Herbert of France, right, and Nicholas Mahut of France celebrate with the trophy as they pose for photographs after defeating Raven Klaasen of South Africa and Michael Venus of New Zealand following their ATP World Finals final doubles tennis match at the O2 arena in London, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019. (AP PhotoKirsty Wigglesworth)

Pierre-Hugues Herbert of France, right, and Nicholas Mahut of France kiss trophy they have won after defeating Raven Klaasen of South Africa and Michael Venus of New Zealand following their ATP World Finals final doubles tennis match at the O2 arena in London, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019. (AP PhotoAlberto Pezzali)

CARY, N.C. (AP) — Clayton Kershaw isn't done pitching just yet, agreeing Thursday to join the U.S. team for this year's World Baseball Classic.

A left-hander who turns 38 two days after the March 17 championship game, Kershaw announced last September that he was retiring at the end of the season, his 18th in a stellar career for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He won his third World Series title and finished 223-96 with a 2.53 ERA and 3,052 strikeouts.

The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner wanted to pitch for the Americans in the 2023 tournament but was prevented because of insurance issues at a time he had a $20 million, one-year contract with the Dodgers.

He joins a U.S. pitching staff that includes right-handers David Bednar, Clay Holmes, Griffin Jax, Nolan McLean, Mason Miller, Joe Ryan, Paul Skenes and Logan Webb along with left-handers Tarik Skubal and Gave Speier.

The American roster also includes catchers Cal Raleigh and Will Smith; infielders Ernie Clement, Gunnar Henderson, Brice Turang and Bobby Witt Jr.; outfielders Byron Buxton, Corbin Carroll, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Aaron Judge; and designated hitter Kyle Schwarber.

The U.S., which lost the 2023 championship game to Japan, opens March 6 against Brazil at Houston, part of a group that also includes Brazil, Britain, Italy and Mexico.

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FILE - Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw celebrates the end of the top of the 12th inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 3 of baseball's World Series, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)