Aussie support act in rare family double

UNHERALDED Australian tennis player John Peers is playing a vital support role in potentially a Wimbledon title double not achieved in more than a century.

Peers has made the men’s doubles final with Jamie Murray, the older brother of singles superstar Andy, after beating Jonathan Erlich and Philipp Petzschner 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in the semi-finals. Peers and Murray will play Dutchman Jean-Julien Rojer and Romanian Horia Tecau in tonight’s decider.

If Andy, the 2013 champion, can reverse his 2012 finals loss to the great Roger Federer overnight, the Scottish siblings will become the first brothers since 1906 to feature in the men’s singles and doubles title matches at the All England Club.

Peers’ partner says he fancies their chances much more than Andy’s.

“Well, I mean, he’s got to beat Federer and maybe [Novak] Djokovic. We have to beat Rojer and Tecau. I’d probably rather be us than him, I think,” Murray said.

“He’s going to have to play a lot of great tennis over the next few days if he wants to lift the trophy again.”

Peers and Murray, seeded 13th at Wimbledon, have won five tournaments since teaming two years ago, including the Brisbane International in January. But never before have they reached a grand slam final together. Murray won the mixed doubles at the All England Club in 2007 with Serbian Jelena Jankovic.