Title winner Murray ‘great at picking the right partner’

Jamie Murray successfully defended his US Open mixed doubles title as he and Bethanie Mattek-Sands came from a set down to defeat Alicja Rosolska and Nikola Mektic.

Murray has now won four grand slam mixed doubles titles, three in the last five tournaments, to add to the two men’s doubles titles he won with Bruno Soares in 2016.

The 32-year-old claimed a second consecutive mixed doubles crown here 12 months ago with Martina Hingis, who watched from his box on Arthur Ashe Stadium having retired at the end of last season.

Pole Rosolska and Croatian Mektic were both playing in their first grand slam final and had chances but it was Murray and Mattek-Sands who proved just the stronger in the big moments to win 2-6 6-3 11-9.

Asked for the secret of his success, Murray said: “Pick the best partner. I’ve got a good talent for that I guess.

“I’ve had an amazing two weeks. Today things were going against us, we fought really hard to try to get back into the match.”

The Scot, who was runner-up with Victoria Azarenka at Wimbledon, then sang happy birthday to mum Judy, who was also watching from the stands.

Mattek-Sands was bidding for her first grand slam title since returning from the horrific knee injury she suffered at Wimbledon last summer that left her screaming on the ground in agony.

She struggled to hold back tears as she said: “I got a little emotional out there. Going from not being able to get out of bed by myself last year, to playing this final. To everyone out there, you can do anything if you put your mind to it.”

The vast majority of the fans were behind Murray and American Mattek-Sands and after losing the opening set they turned things around in the second, finally wrapping up victory with a Murray volley on fourth match point.

Jamie Murray retained his US mixed doubles title.