Jamie Murray and Martina Hingis defeat defending champions Heather Watson and Henri Kontinen to win Wimbledon mixed doubles crown


JAMIE MURRAY put a British seal on Wimbledon by winning the mixed doubles title with Martina Hingis.

Murray and Hingis beat defending champions Heather Watson and Henri Kontinen 6-4 6-4 in a match guaranteed to end with a Brit as a champion.

Jamie Murray and Martini Hingis grabbed the silverware at Wimbledon today - with the flag of Scotland prominent in the background
Jamie Murray and Martini Hingis grabbed the silverware at Wimbledon today – with the flag of Scotland prominent in the background
PA:Press Association
Jamie Murray celebrates after he and playing partner Martina Hingis won the Wimbledon mixed doubles title
Jamie Murray celebrates after he and playing partner Martina Hingis won the Wimbledon mixed doubles title
Getty Images
Wimbledon tennis highlights 2017: Watch Roger Federer beat Marin Cilic to win his record eighth title at SW19

It is Murray’s second mixed doubles title, following his win with Jelena Jankovic back in 2007.

It is also 20 years since Hingis edged past Jana Novotna to win her singles title on Centre Court, and the Swiss now has six major mixed doubles triumphs to add to her 12 in women's doubles and five in singles.

The pairs exchanged breaks in the opening set before Murray and Hingis edged ahead.

And Murray saved break back points in the final game on his serve before sealing the match after 71 minutes.

Murray and Hingis share the winners' cheque of £100,000 while Watson and Kontinen split the £50,000 runners-up prize.

After Andy Murray and Johanna Konta's exits from the singles, Watson and Jamie Murray were able to deliver two British finalists on Centre Court, even if not the pair that many home fans had wished for.

Heather Watson and her playing partner Henri Kontinen were forced to settle for the runners-up silverware
Heather Watson and her playing partner Henri Kontinen were forced to settle for the runners-up silverware
PA:Press Association
The delight was clear for all to see as Martini Hingis rolled back the clock as she and Jamie Murray triumphed
The delight was clear for all to see as Martini Hingis rolled back the clock as she and Jamie Murray triumphed
Getty Images

The crowd's support was certainly evenly spread, to the extent that one particularly generous spectator felt compelled to shout out, "Come on, all of you", much to the amusement of the masses.

Murray was the star of the show and he earned the first break with a dart across the net, but a poor game from Hingis allowed Watson and Kontinen instantly to hit back.

Another Murray intervention sealed a second break for 4-3 and this time they served out when the Scot hammered away a smash.

There may have been disappointment at Wimbledon this year for Andy, but brother Jamie triumphed
There may have been disappointment at Wimbledon this year for Andy, but brother Jamie triumphed
Getty Images
Jamie Murray and Martina Hingis offer a commiseratory kiss to their beaten finalists
Jamie Murray and Martina Hingis offer a commiseratory kiss to their beaten finalists
News Group Newspapers Ltd
Jamie Murray then blows a kiss in the direction of his team and family after bagging the mixed doubles title
Jamie Murray then blows a kiss in the direction of his team and family after bagging the mixed doubles title
Getty Images

The second set was close until the seventh game when Watson's serve came under pressure.

A stinging Hingis return set up two break points, and she and Murray converted the second when Watson chipped a short ball into the net.

Serving for the match, Murray and Hingis faced two break points after a pair of punching Watson returns and then a third as Kontinen fired away a pass.

Jamie Murray and Martina Hingis played out the perfect game to triumph in front of an excited Wimbledon crowd
Jamie Murray and Martina Hingis played out the perfect game to triumph in front of an excited Wimbledon crowd
PA:Press Association
While there was jubilation on one side of the court, there was despair on the other, as one Brit tasted defeat
While there was jubilation on one side of the court, there was despair on the other, as one Brit tasted defeat
EPA
And the doubles' reward was being able to get their hands on some silverware in the most famous tennis competition of all
And the doubles' reward was being able to get their hands on some silverware in the most famous tennis competition of all
Reuters

But each was saved and when Watson flashed wide a smash, all that was left was for a booming Murray serve to finish off.

He and Hingis were the number one seeds and victory was consolation for Murray after he and partner Bruno Soares went out in the second round of the men’s doubles.

Roger Federer beats Marin Cilic in men's singles Wimbledon final
Garbiñe Muguruza beats Venus Williams in Wimbledon Women's singles final 2017

Leave a comment