Murray wins Wimbledon mixed title

 

By Piers Newbery

BBC Sport at Wimbledon

Murray and Jankovic were playing in their first event together

 

Jamie Murray became the first Briton for 20 years to win a senior title at Wimbledon as he and Serbia's Jelena Jankovic won the mixed doubles.

The 21-year-old Scot, elder brother of British number one Andy, follows in the footsteps of Jeremy Bates and Jo Durie, who won the same title in 1987.

Murray and Jankovic beat fifth seeds Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden and Australia's Alicia Molik 6-4 3-6 6-1.

It was the last match of the tournament and was played on Centre Court.

After a pulsating men's final the arena was empty for the start of the mixed final, but it soon filled up with spectators keen to witness a small moment of British tennis history.

The home favourite did not make the best of starts, dropping serve straight away, but Murray and Jankovic soon recovered the break.

It could be a good bet - and you'd probably get some good odds too!

 

 

Jamie Murray when asked by BBC Sport in March on his chances of winning a Grand slam title before Andy

 

And when doubles expert Bjorkman was broken in game nine, Murray and Jankovic held onto the advantage to seal the first set.

It was a different story in the second, however, as the fifth seeds raced into a 5-1 lead and quickly got back on level terms.

The momentum appeared to be with the more established pair but it was not the case.

Bjorkman was broken to love in the second game of the deciding set and, with the Wimbledon crowd increasingly vociferous, a second break followed in game six.

It fell to the beaming Jankovic to serve out and she did so comfortably, sealing a first Grand Slam title for both players.

An elated Murray said: "I don't know if it's sunk in, but it feels pretty good."

He paid tribute to his Serbian partner, the world number three in singles but a self-confessed doubles novice.

"She won the match in the end because she kept returning the guy's serve and I couldn't do it," he said.

Jankovic, who lost to eventual finalist Marion Bartoli in the fourth round of the women's singles, admitted that a first Grand Slam win was especially sweet.

"It's really an incredible feeling for me to be there and to hold the trophy," she said.

"It's something that I always dreamed of, and I would love one day to have that feeling with the singles trophy."

1) He's Scottish, we want an Englishman winning at SW19 ??!

2) She's probably a better singles player than him

3) Get yer' hair cut :dozey:

1) He's Scottish, we want an Englishman winning at SW19 ??!

2) She's probably a better singles player than him

3) Get yer' hair cut :dozey:

 

Harsh!

 

1. What have you got against "sweaties"?:P

2. She is. Jamie's pretty much a specialist doubles player.

3. I don't care how long his hair is as long as he keeps winning!:P

 

Anyway, the pair of them play tennis the right way - they're always laughing and joking around, and they lit up the tournament with their attitudes.

It was a pleasure to watch them, and I'd far rather watch smiling Jankovic than surly, grunting Sharapova or the manly Williamses any day!:D