History for Brit duo but Jamie blocks their path

FOR the fourth year in a row there will be a British player in a Wimbledon final after mixed doubles success followed men’s doubles disappointment yesterday. Jamie Murray and Victoria Azarenka will face wildcards Harriet Dart and Jay Clarke in the semi-final of the mixed tomorrow, meaning at least one Brit will contest Sunday’s final. Dart and Clarke are the first British duo to go this far in the mixed doubles since Jeremy Bates and Jo Durie in 1987. They beat Juan Sebastian Cabal and Abigail Spears 7-6, 7-5 on Centre Court. On the prospect of facing double

Wimbledon mixed champion Murray, Clarke said: ‘He’s the king of doubles — and he’s got a pretty decent partner as well! It’s going to be a tough test but I think we’re ready.’ But will they have the crowd support? ‘I think so, Brits like the underdog.’ Murray and double Australian Open champion Azarenka won a three-set contest against Dutch pair Jean-Julien

Roger and Demi Schuurs. After Murray and Martina Hingis last year and Heather Watson and Henri Kontinen in 2016, this is the third year in which Britain will have a player in the mixed final. In the men’s doubles semi-finals, though, both pairs including a home hope lost. Wildcards Joe Salisbury and Frederik Nielsen, of Denmark, went down in four sets to Raven Klaasen and Michael Venus. ‘It has been the best tournament of my life,’ said Salisbury. ‘Really proud of what we’ve achieved.’ England’s Dom Inglot and Croatia’s Franko Skugor lost in five sets to American duo Jack Sock and Mike Bryan.