Whiley celebrates a Wimbledon hat-trick
Talented pair win title for unprecedented third time
ICKENHAM-BASED wheelchair tennis ace Jordanne Whiley made history at Wimbledon by making it a hat-trick of Wimbledon ladies’ doubles titles.
Whiley and Japan’s Yui Kamiji continued their remarkable record at the All England Club to claim the title for an unprecedented third time.
The 2014 and 2015 champions played Dutch top seeds Jiske Griffioen and Aniek van Koot in the ladies’ doubles final for the fourth successive year.
The Brit-Japanese partnership put together a string of four games in a row in the first set and five games in a row in the second set to close out a 6-2, 6-2 victory and their eighth Grand Slam doubles title together.
“We’re both in a bit of shock if I’m honest,” said Whiley.
“We never thought we could win three in a row as Jiske and Aniek are so strong, but today I really felt like we played the best tennis at a Grand Slam.
“To win at Wimbledon is so special and the crowd today were brilliant. We just love being on court with each other and love playing with each other.”
Whiley had to recover from the disappointment of missing out on the inaugural ladies singles title before her final appearance,
And the Brit has suggested the added element of singles competition made the build-up to the SW19 tournament a little bit different this year.
“I think it was different coming into Wimbledon this year because of the singles,” she continued.
“All I’ve ever known here is doubles, so we prepare our bodies and our minds to play two or three matches.
“Now we had to play singles on our own.
“We had to cover the court, which was more stress on our body.
“Also it’s the first time we played singles, so it was more stress on our minds because everybody wanted to be the first one to go down in history to do that.
“I think it’s a real historic moment for wheelchair tennis.
“All the slams are complete now. This, I consider, to be ‘ the slam’.
“Everyone wants to win Wimbledon. “For me, it’s my home. “Congrats to Jiske [Griffioen] who became the first lady to do it as well.” UXBRIDGE hero Natasha Baker (pictured) is in great form heading into next month’s Paralympic Games in Rio after triumphing at the Hartpury Festival of Dressage.
Baker is set to be confirmed as a member of Team GB tomorrow (Thursday) after a stunning performance in the Grade II test event as she recorded a 74.352 per cent average.
That placed her and horse Cabral, who she rode to win double gold at London 2012, comfortably ahead of Suzanna Hext on 71.852 per cent in Gloucestershire.
Baker said: “It’s been a consistent year, every competition I’ve been to it’s been 74 or 75. I’m really, really happy. The walk felt amazing but the trot felt a little bit flat. I think three days in a row and then going from outside to inside makes a big difference.
“I had no medium trot whatsoever but I kept the rhythm and harmony and I love riding to music - it’s my favourite.
“I’m so lucky to have the best team around me. I could not be more proud of JP, he really is the horse of a lifetime.
“It would be his last ever Paralympic Games so to go out there and keep my title of Paralympic champion and to have to potential to beat my own record would be incredible.
“I want to go and win as many Paralympic medals as possible so to do that on him would be really special.”
Baker has transverse myelitis, an inflammation of a section across the spine, which she contracted when she was 14 months old. The nerve damage is permanent, leaving her with a severe weakness and the inability to feel her legs.