Double take: Hingis mixes & matches
WIMBLEDON — The last time Martina Hingis was winning doubles titles at majors, she was playing with a generation of partners named Jana Novotna and Anna Kournikova.
But in two remarkable days at Wimbledon, Hingis paired with contemporary partners and performed a rare double-double. She captured the women’s doubles on Saturday, with Sania Mirza, and mixed doubles on Sunday, with Leander Paes. Unlike the women’s doubles final, which required a dramatic comeback from 2-5 in the third set, the victory with Paes was a one-sided, 6-1, 6-1 affair over Alexander Peya and Timea Babos.
“I think the confidence from yesterday, to come out today with Leander, I mean, he was striking the ball, winners right and left,” Hingis said. “I’m like, ‘Okay, if I can just keep up with him, join him a little bit.’ It was incredible, the chemistry we had today.”
Hingis has teamed up with her two Indian partners separately. She played Team-Tennis with Paes on the Washington Kastles and got to know him that way. She and Mirza agreed to a partnership more recently, in March.
“I feel like a quarter Indian,” Hingis said. “I’ve been to India four times. I’m meeting the prime minister and everything.”
Hingis, along with the likes of Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver, is considered one of the greatest women’s doubles players of any generation. She now has a total of 17 major titles — five in singles and 12 in women’s and mixed doubles.
Hingis has another goal now: to convince either Roger Federer or Stan Wawrinka to play mixed doubles with her for Switzerland at the Rio Olympics next year.
“I asked Roger and Stan,” she said. “We’ll see how it’s going to develop.”
HOPE FOR U.S.
A young American giant was a giant killer in the juniors tournament on Sunday, becoming the second straight U.S. player to win a Grand Slam event and the second straight American teenager to win at Wimbledon.
The unseeded Reilly Opelka defeated Mikael Ymer, 7-6 (5), 6-4, on Court 1, further justifying his decision to turn pro last month. Opelka, 17 years old, is 6-10 and possibly still growing. He fired serves as fast as 134 mph against Ymer, the 12th seed from Sweden.
Noah Rubin won Wimbledon juniors last year, and then Tommy Paul captured the French a few weeks ago. The last American man to win a major in the main draw was Andy Roddick back in 2003, but there are now a group of U.S. teens who may change the landscape in four or five years.
Opelka has roomed with Paul and said the player’s victory at Roland Garros greatly inspired him.
“A ton,” Opelka said. “Seeing him hold up the trophy was great for American tennis. Then it makes us want to try to do the same. It’s got to be the best it’s been for the juniors in a while.”
Opelka, from Palm Coast, Fla., turned down a scholarship offer from the University of Florida to turn professional in May. He was very nearly eliminated in the first round at Wimbledon, fighting off a match point to beat Alex De Minaur, 4-6, 6-3, 13-11. He later knocked off the No. 1 seed, yet another American, Taylor Fritz.
“Just had to find a way,” Opelka said. “Luckily I was able to get through that. I progressed almost every single match from there. By the time I played Taylor, I was pretty high on confidence.”
Among the list of past Wimbledon junior champs are Bjorn Borg, Stefan Edberg, Pat Cash, Ivan Lendl, Roger Federer, Gael Monfils and Grigor Dmitrov.