Williams stars as ‘Murrena’ duo prove the best of British
● Mixed doubles pair rescue the day after big brother Jamie and Konta exit tournament
It was a challenge he had faced many times before – saving the day if not the whole tournament for the nation. Andy Murray did it again but not without a gigantic contribution from the other half of the newlychristened “Murrena” project.
Serena Williams, back from injury like Murray, back on Centre Court a few hours after a gruelling singles match, thundered backhand after backhand at their hapless opponents in the mixed doubles to keep the duo on course for glory following disappointments elsewhere.
Big brother Jamie exited the men’s doubles and Johanna Konta lost her quarter-final and the chance to play Williams , but on last night’s form you might not have given the Brit much chance against a woman chasing history and a 24th Slam to draw level with Margaret Court.
Murray played his part against Fabrice Martin of France and America’s Raquel Atawo in the 7-5, 6-3 secondround victory, smoothing away winners from his back pages. And when the shots were too short or too long the packed stands did their best to blow them back on course.
But Williams was sensational. At the end she was asked how she did it. “Do not expect that to ever happen again,” she said. “I’m convinced that was once-in-a-lifetime. I’ve just never hit returns like that in my life.”
Martin is a big unit. Standing opposite Murray for the coin-toss, he loomed over him, something which doesn’t happen very often. In size and bulk he was not dissimilar to the Croatian Franko Skugor, who had helped end Murray’s interest in the men’s doubles at the weekend.
Martin’s partner Atawo buzzed around the net like the experienced doubles practitioner she is. She surprised the crowd by retrieving a fierce
Murray drive in the opening game but Williams clinched it by thrashing the ball at Martin’s redoubtable backside.
Showing no ill-effects, the big yin from Bayonne bazooka-ed serves at Mezzena to level things up. Then it was Williams’ turn. Her singles victory over US compatriot Alison Riske had been extremely hard-won but she kept our pair ahead, the clinching point coming from a volley on the run.
Atawo’s serve was the least powerful on display, but her deft touches won her points and Martin did the rest with three sledgehammer smashes, thumping one of them into the turf with such power that it bounced right over the scoreboard and into the box from where Murray’s mum Judy was watching.
Centre Court was right behind Murray from the start – willing him to get stronger and quicker as he continues his rehab in full public view. They cheered every point he won, and especially those with something approaching his old barnstorming style, and the little simper of encouragement whenavolley wasmissedor he double-faulted was like that emitted by a grandparent when a child bruises a knee or breaks a toy.
Imagine the roar then when he returned Martin’s next smash. And when this was followed by some frenzied pinball at the net. Still, the French-american pairing were able to level the match at 3-3.
Then it was Murray’s turn to slug Martin. In retaliation Martin bounced yet another smash into the TV commentary pill-box. But Atawo’s serve was being attacked, Murray sizzling a forehand past his brick outhouse of a foe.
Then Williams fired one straight at him. Martin was able contrive a winning response before a mock-stagger as if he’d just been shot. The crowd were loving this.
The seventh game was proving the best thus far, Williams unleashing a cross-court winner with her grunt travelling not far behind it. Atawo’s serve was definitely vulnerable but