MURRAY WINS AGAIN
Jamie and Hingis beat Watson and Kontinen in mixed doubles
JAMIE MURRAY ensured there would be a 2017 Wimbledon champion from his family and admitted only Martina Hingis could have tempted him to play mixed doubles.
Hingis reflected on one of the best texts she ever sent after teaming up with Murray to overcome his fellow Brit Heather Watson and Finland’s Henri Kontinen 6-4 6-4 on Centre Court in the final.
Doubles queen Hingis helped Murray become a king again against the defending champions 10 years after he won the mixed Wimbledon title alongside Jelena Jankovic.
It was a perfect start to the partnership in their first tournament as a double act.
And their link-up was formed following a text sent before the Championships by Hingis, who now has 23 Grand Slam titles to her name including 18 doubles triumphs.
“If it was anyone else, would I have said no? Probably, yeah,” laughed Murray, who saw Andy knocked out of the singles at the quarter-final stage before he equalled his younger brother’s tally of two SW19 titles.
“It’s just a great opportunity for me to play and to really feel like you could do good things on the court and have a great shot to win.
“The doubles for me is obviously my biggest goal of the year. It’s going to take something pretty special to maybe potentially take my eye off the ball with it.
“But it was a great opportunity. She’s won everything, won so many mixed as well. I knew I could do well with her. It was an easy decision. A good decision for both of us.”
Hingis – singles champion 20 years ago and who made it a double Swiss success yesterday after Federer’s record eighth victory – said: “I said, ‘Hi, Jamie, want to play with me?’
“You’ve just got to keep it simple. That’s what matters.
“When you’re on the court shine off her campaign. She also equalled her SW19 best in the singles by reaching the third round having warmed up for Wimbledon by reaching the Eastbourne semis.
Watson said: “It’s been a great tournament all around. I’m so happy to reach the final again with Henri in the mixed.
“I’m very pleased with how my singles have gone over this whole grass court season.
“I’m very happy and looking forward to some rest now.” too, we know where we stand, what we do, what we can expect from one another as doubles players.
“I was hoping for a yes, definitely. I’m not used to ‘no’. I don’t take ‘no’ as an answer pretty much.
“He left me hanging overnight. I was like, ‘Oh my God, did he read it? Did he not?’ but it worked out, definitely.”
The chemistry between the pair has been clear for all to see on and off court throughout their run to the final.
And they finished with a flourish by outclassing Watson and Kontinen to be crowned winners without dropping a set all tournament.
Watson refused to let seeing her title snatched away take the