Jamie keeping flag flying for the Murrays
Andy may have temporarily swapped the court for the commentary booth but, thanks to Jamie, there will be a Murray in a Wimbledon final for the fourth year in a row.
The 32-year-old Scot and Victoria Azarenka outclassed British duo Harriet dart and Jay Clarke 6-2, 6-2 in the mixed doubles semi-final on Court no 1 yesterday.
Tomorrow Murray will try to win a third mixed title at Wimbledon with a third different partner, after victories last year with Martina Hingis and in 2007 with Jelena Jankovic. He and Azarenka face no 11 seeds nicole Melichar, of the US, and Alexander Peya, of Austria.
‘I’m really excited to be in the final,’ said Murray. ‘We played a great match from start to finish. We didn’t really give them a chance.’ It was the end of a fairytale fortnight for wildcards Clarke and dart, aged 19 and 21 respectively.
They had never played together before, but have had an incredible run. They met their match here with a brilliant performance from Murray and, in particular, Azarenka.
The 28-year-old has racked up two Australian Open singles titles and an Olympic gold medal in the mixed doubles for Belarus, won here at Wimbledon in 2012 against Andy Murray and Laura Robson.
Azarenka has certainly hit it off with Jamie, butt she was less enamouredd last night with the BBC’s John Inverdale, ermwhose commentary skills came under fire. ‘ We are just rewatching our mixed doubles now... whoever is commentating is just comicalal and not in a goodod way,’ she tweeted.ed. Inverdale was coverith
covering the match with formerf professional player Liz Smylie. And Azarenka elaborated on her tweet later, saying: ‘It was pretty amazing that there are people who are not so knowledgeable commentating on tennis.
‘If I’m correct I don’t think the guy has even played tennis in his life, so that was surprising. ‘ It was hilarious. I mean, one comment just made me cry bebecause it was that funfunny. He said, “AzaAzarenka, second serve, woof”.w It’s horrendous! dhorrendous!! WhatWht is that?’ It is not the first time Inverdale has got into trouble with a leading women’s player. In 2013, there was an outcry when he said on air that finalist Marion Bartoli was ‘never going to be a looker’. The Frenchwoman later accepted his apology.
Back on the court, Azarenka is rebuilding her form and fitness having given birth to Leo, her first child, in december 2016. She conceded just four points on her serve in the match and her returning was brutal as the dart service was exposed.
Clarke and dart almost had the perfect start, earning two break points in Murray’s first service game, but the youngsters fluffed their lines.
From there Azarenka took full control. Murray had little to do other than patrol the net. His partner is clearly on a mission.