And that, as they say, is that. Conversation in the Murray household will be at a premium tonight, one suspects. Jamie served superbly and showed some fine touches at the net, but neither he nor John Peers could do enough on the return to make an impression against the fourth seeds. Tecau, on the other hand, had the afternoon of his life, serving brilliantly and swinging freely on the return to consign those three previous defeats in the men’s doubles final to history. He was ably aided and abetted by Rojer, whose service proved equally impregnable, and how delighted the Dutchman must be after five losing semi-final appearances of his own at the majors. Thanks for reading and good night.
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Murray and Peers receive a sympathetic round of applause from the Centre Court crowd. They look disappointed but not crestfallen. The watching Andy Murray, however, seems thoroughly disconsolate. As for Rojer and Tecau, they are all smiles as they hold their silver cups aloft; happy, but perhaps just a touch shell-shocked.
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The players are making their way up to the royal box for the trophy presentation. Murray and Peers will be bitterly disappointed by that defeat, but they ought to take huge encouragement from the past fortnight. Today they came up against a pair who were simply too good.
What a ruthless, nerveless performance from the fourth seeds. Tecau, who becomes the first Romanian to win the men’s doubles at Wimbledon since the great showman Ilie Nastase, falls to his knees in disbelief and is soon followed to the turf by Rojer. They embrace warmly, and well they might.
Rojer and Tecau win the third set 6-4 – they are the new Wimbledon men's doubles champions!
Murray/Peers 4-6 Rojer*/Tecau (sets 0-2)
It’s all over! An unsuccessful challenge from Murray and Peers on the opening point sets the fourth seeds on their way, and Rojer never looks back. Oozing aggression, the Dutchman slams down his serves with increasing venom and is rewarded at 40-0 when Peers nets a return. Tecau’s demons are exorcised and it’s more disappointment for clan Murray.
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Murray/Peers* 4-5 Rojer/Tecau (sets 0-2)
After looking so solid in his previous game, Peers falters. A double-fault at 30-30 all gifts Rojer and Tecau a break point, and Tecau requires no second invitation. From the moment he spins a return low to the incoming server’s feet, Murray and Peers are on the back foot, and after a quick exchange at the net Murray errs. Rojer and Tecau to serve for the net.
Murray/Peers 4-4 Rojer/Tecau* (sets 0-2)
A game that perfectly encapsulates the returning travails of Murray and Peers. They fail to land a ball in court and, with Tecau cranking up the speed on his serve, it’s perhaps no surprise. The Romanian seals the game with a 124mph ace out wide to Peers, and we’re heading for the business end of the set with Murray and his partner still very much up against it.
Murray*/Peers 4-3 Rojer/Tecau (sets 0-2)
Another love hold from Jamie has Judy up on her feet and shouting encouragement from the players’ box. We’re still on serve.
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Murray/Peers 3-3 Rojer*/Tecau (sets 0-2)
Rojer claims his second love hold of the set. Not what the doctor ordered for Murray and Peers. No wonder Andy Murray continues to look one step from distraught up in the stands.
Murray/Peers* 3-2 Rojer/Tecau (sets 0-2)
As the angular shadow cast by the Centre Court roof cuts across the turf, Peers slams away an overhead to complete a solid hold. You sense that Murray and Peers could still do something here, but they really need to find a way of crafting a break point somewhere along the line. They’ve simply been unable to establish any real momentum so far.
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Murray/Peers 2-2 Rojer/Tecau* (sets 0-2)
At 15-0 down, Peers and Murray produce a series of fine defensive lobs to momentarily knock the fourth seeds off course. But Tecau is in no mood to be denied. Three booming serves complete the hold with minimal fuss, and Murray and Peers must be wondering what more they can do to make an impression against the serve.
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Murray*/Peers 2-1 Rojer/Tecau (sets 0-2)
As we pass the 90-minute mark, Murray completes another efficient hold, a well-placed serve eliciting a weak return that Peers punches away at the net. It really has been a tremendous performance on serve from the Scot.
Murray/Peers 1-1 Rojer*/Tecau (sets 0-2)
A ruthless love hold by Rojer and Tecau only threatens to stall momentarily when Murray makes an audacious but unsuccessful interception. They’re not giving Murray and Peers any cause for encouragement here.
Murray/Peers* 1-0 Rojer/Tecau (sets 0-2)
A lovely touch volley from Murray at 15-30 keeps things ticking over on the Peers serve, and the Scot then shows a more brutal side to his game by crossing to club away a volley at 40-30. That’s just what the 13th seeds needed as they look to make a quick start to this third set.
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Rojer and Tecau win the second set 6-4
Murray/Peers 4-6 Rojer/Tecau* (sets 0-1)
Serving viciously, Tecau continues to look a formidable proposition. He seems intent on consigning the memory of those three losing finals with Robert Lindstedt to history, and it’s no surprise when he races to a 40-0 lead. In fact, the greater surprise comes when first Peers and then Murray strike clean winners off the return to cancel out the first couple of set points. On the third, however, Peers can only mishit a short lob off another big delivery from the Romanian. This time Tecau makes no mistake, adjusting his feet swiftly to slam away an overhead and seal a two-set lead. Murray and Peers will need to do it the hard way now.
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Murray*/Peers 4-5 Rojer/Tecau (sets 0-1)
The consolation for Murray and Peers as they look to stay in the second-set hunt is that the Scot has looked unassailable on serve so far. It’s a pattern that continues here, but it is a measure of how well Rojer and Tecau are playing right now that the Scot is tested for the first time. He recovers from 15-30 down in spite of some probing play from the fourth seeds.
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Murray/Peers 3-5 Rojer*/Tecau (sets 0-1)
At 15-0, Rojer spins a solid first serve wide to the Peers backhand. The Aussie thumps a two-fisted winner down the line past Tecau, and when Murray summarily concludes a long rally with a meaty interception on the next point, the 13th seeds look to be in with a shout. But Rojer and Tecau are looking ominously strong now, and they recover courtesy of some solid play from the net to move within a game of a two-set lead.
Murray/Peers* 3-4 Rojer/Tecau (sets 0-1)
Worrying times for Peers, but after a couple of wobbles the Australian comes through to cement a vital hold. Meanwhile, up in the stands, Andy and Kim Murray have shifted to get a closer look at the action. Do they know something we don’t? We’ll soon see …
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Murray/Peers 2-4 Rojer/Tecau* (sets 0-1)
For all Murray’s fine serving display, Tecau is becoming the dominant player out here on Centre Court. Serves, returns, volleys – you name it, the Romanian is ripping them. And with Rojer around to mop up any loose ends at the net, there’s very little Murray and Peers can do about it beyond continuing to hold serve and hoping an opportunity to break back presents itself.
Murray*/Peers 2-3 Rojer/Tecau (sets 0-1)
Despite a winning Tecau return that almost bores a hole through the Peers midriff, Murray continues to look untouchable on serve. A stinging ace seals the game to 15, and how they needed that with the second set threatening to run away from them.
Murray/Peers 1-3 Rojer*/Tecau (sets 0-1)
Andy Murray, who has said that he thinks he’s a jinx on his older brother and therefore doesn’t like to watch his matches, has appeared in the stands alongside wife Kim. He looks pensive, and well he might as Rojer serves out to 30.
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Murray/Peers* 1-2 Rojer/Tecau (sets 0-1)
Tough times for Murray and Peers. A brutal forehand return from Tecau passes Peers almost before he has reached the forecourt, and after conceding the opening point Murray and his partner suddenly find themselves staring down the barrel at 0-30. The bit firmly between their teeth, Rojer and Tecau continue to turn the heat up on their returns, and it reaps dividends as Peers coughs up a couple of cheap volleying errors. That’s a break to 15 and a real blow for the 13th seeds.
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Murray/Peers 1-1 Rojer/Tecau* (sets 0-1)
Excellent serving from Tecau, who elicits a series of weak returns before rounding off the game with an ace. Anything you can do, Jamie, the Romanian seems to say …
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Murray*/Peers 1-0 Rojer/Tecau (sets 0-1)
After losing a desperately tight opening set, Murray and Peers need to dispel any sense of disappointment with a convincing opening game. They do just that, Murray firing down an ace to seal a love hold. The Scot has lost just two points on his serve so far, yet it’s he and Peers who find themselves a set behind. That’s a measure of the fine margins involved here.
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Rojer and Tecau claim the first set 7-6 (7-5)
Murray/Peers 6-7 (5-7) Rojer/Tecau
See-saw stuff as Murray and Peers claim first blood against the serve only to be quickly pegged back. Judy Murray is a picture of tension up in the players’ box, and her nerves are reflected in the enthralled hush that descends on Centre Court. It’s Rojer and Tecau who ease ahead, though, a missed return and a volleying error paving the way for the pairing to open up a 6-3 lead. Peers saves the first with an unreturnable serve, and Murray follows up by slotting away a volley behind the Australian’s serve. But at 6-5 comes the rally of the match so far, with Murray and Peers defending frantically in the face of a sequence of ferocious overheads from the fourth seeds. Rojer and Tecau miss several chances to close it out, but it’s Tecau who makes the decisive intervention, pounding away one final smash to seal the set.
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Murray*/Peers 6-6 Rojer/Tecau (*denotes server)
When Rojer hits a beautifully executed topspin lob for a winner on the opening point, it looks like the fourth seeds might finally make an impression on the Murray delivery. Not so. Jamie recovers with some classy, penetrative serving and we’re into a tie-break.
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Murray/Peers 5-6 Rojer/Tecau* (*denotes server)
Despite some deft touches from Murray, most notably a lovely winning lob that sails for a winner, Rojer and Tecau hold to 30. All four men are looking secure on serve now.
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Murray/Peers* 5-5 Rojer/Tecau (*denotes server)
Peers and Murray suddenly find themselves living dangerously as Rojer produces two brilliant returns from the deuce court. The Dutchman follows up a lovely off backhand winner on the opening point with a sizzling forehand down the line at 30-30. Facing a set point, Peers comes up with a good first serve that Tecau can only send back high down the line. Murray pounces, slamming the ball into Rojer at the net. Ouch. That has to hurt. Although probably not as much as the resolute serving from Peers that completes the recovery. That’s a real chance missed by the fourth seeds.
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Murray/Peers 4-5 Rojer*/Tecau (*denotes server)
At 15-0, Murray and Peers are presented with an inviting opportunity to get a foothold in the game, Murray firing a short ball at Tecau from point-blank range. But the Romanian reflexes the ball back superbly, and a couple of telling first serves later it’s a love hold. Will Murray and Peers have cause to rue these missed chances? We’ll soon see: Peers will now have to serve to stay in the set.
Murray*/Peers 4-4 Rojer/Tecau (*denotes server)
Another solid hold from Murray, who is using that swinging lefty serve to telling effect. He seals the game with a 124mph delivery that goes unreturned, and that’s another love hold for the Scot.
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Murray/Peers 3-4 Rojer/Tecau* (*denotes server)
At 40-30, Tecau serves down the middle to the Peers forehand. The Aussie can’t do much with the return, and Rojer angles away the simplest of volleys. After a couple of difficult games on serve, the fourth seeds will be glad to have secured a more straightforward hold.
Murray/Peers* 3-3 Rojer/Tecau (*denotes server)
Peers opens with a pair of aces, both struck wide rather than down the centre. That’s an interesting tactic from the Aussie. The conventional wisdom holds that it’s safer to serve down the centre in doubles, which limits the angles. Clearly Peers doesn’t have much truck with convention, because he tries it again on the third point – and sees the return whacked past Murray at the net. Does this knock him off his stride? Not a bit. At 40-15 he comes up with a third ace, this time struck hard down the middle. Impressive stuff from the Aussie.
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Murray/Peers 2-3 Rojer*/Tecau (*denotes server)
Another close-fought game on the Rojer serve goes to deuce, at which point Murray – playing the deuce court, incidentally – gets the better of Tecau, steering a backhand return to the spot vacated by the Romanian with Rojer still making his way into the forecourt. With a first break there for the taking, Peers gets enough on his return to set up a topspin lob, but the Australian’s shot drifts agonisingly wide of the alley. Rojer recovers to hold once again, but it’s Murray and Peers who have threatened more on the return so far.
Murray*/Peers 2-2 Rojer/Tecau (*denotes server)
Helped by some decisive interventions at the net from Peers, Murray makes a solid start to his opening service game. At 40-0, the Scot seals the game with a brilliant angled half-volley, sent back across the face of the net at an acute angle. That should do wonders for his confidence.
Murray/Peers 1-2 Rojer/Tecau* (*denotes server)
Murray may be sporting shades and a cap, but he’s been anything but anonymous so far. A sprightly interception from the Scot brings up a couple of break points, and it takes some fine serving from Tecau to steady the boat. A lively start.
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Murray/Peers* 1-1 Rojer/Tecau (*denotes server)
Looking very much at ease, Peers closes out a very comfortable hold to 15. So far, Murray and his Australian partner look to have settled the quicker.
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Murray/Peers 0-1 Rojer*/Tecau (*denotes server)
Rojer opens the proceedings on serve and, looking a little edgy, immediately falls 30-0 behind. The Dutchman battles back to 30-30, at which point Murray slams a cross-court backhand for a winner. Or so it seems. Rojer believes the serve was out, and an appeal to HawkEye proves him right. It’s an unconventional use of the challenge system, but it reaps dividends as Rojer and Tecau recover to close out the game to 30.
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The players have just strolled on to a virtually deserted Centre Court. Still taking in the outcome of the women’s final, the crowd are enjoying a breather before the action gets underway. In the meantime, the BBC are showing clips of Murray’s 2007 victory with Jankovic. The Scot’s hair has calmed down noticeably since then.
Seeded 13th, Murray and Peers have slowly grown in authority after surviving a testing start to the fortnight. They were taken to five sets in the second round against Nicholas Monroe and Artem Sitak, and again went the distance in beating Sock and Pospisil 8-6 in the final set a round later. Alexander Peya and Bruno Soares were seen off in straight sets in the quarters, paving the way for a four-set victory over the unseeded pair Jonathan Erlich – who was struggling with a knee injury – and Philipp Petzschner in the last four. Rojer and Tecau, meanwhile, have veered between extremes. In the second round, either side of straight-sets victories, they were extended to a 15-13 fifth set against Andre Begemann and Julian Knowle. Another comfortable win followed in the last eight, but their semi-final brought a second epic, the fourth seeds coming out on the right side of a three hour and 23 minute struggle against Rohan Bopanna and Florin Mergea to win 13-11 in the fifth.
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Good afternoon and welcome
If it’s not one Murray keeping the British end up at Wimbledon, it’s another. With Andy Murray out of the singles after losing to Roger Federer on Friday evening, Jamie Murray’s tilt at the men’s doubles crown is just the fillip British tennis enthusiasts need round about now. Like his more celebrated sibling, the elder of the Murray brothers has previous when it comes to making the final weekend at the All England Club. Eight summers ago, his wonderful run to the mixed title alongside Jelena Jankovic put an event that rarely receives attention firmly in the national spotlight, with groundless speculation about a budding romance between the Scot and the Serb apparently capturing the public imagination every bit as much as their on-court heroics. There’s a promising recent precedent for Murray, too, for it is only three years since Jonathan Marray teamed up with Denmark’s Freddie Nielsen to become the first Briton to win a men’s doubles title at Wimbledon since 1936. How Murray would love to follow in his near namesake’s footsteps.
Having said all that, the men’s doubles final is not of purely domestic interest. Murray will line up alongside John Peers, the big Australian with whom he first joined forces two-and-a-half years ago. He’s an interesting character, Peers. While his sister, Sally, won the girls’ doubles at Wimbledon in 2009 as an 18-year-old, John is a finance graduate who has taken a more leisurely route to success. But after turning pro just four years ago, Peers – now just a fortnight shy of his 27th birthday – has been making up for lost time fast since throwing his lot in with Murray. The pair beat the top-ranked Bryan brothers shortly after getting together in 2013, and went on to reach the last eight at the US Open that year. This, though, is by far the biggest match they have played – individually or as a partnership – and after beating the defending champions Vasek Pospisil and Jack Sock in the last 16, they’ll feel they have a mantle to inherit.
That won’t be easy, however. Standing in their way are familiar foes in the shape of the fourth-seeded pair Jean-Julien Rojer, of the Netherlands, and Romania’s Horia Tecau. Like Murray and Peers, they are a fairly recent partnership, having not played together before last year; unlike Murray and Peers, they are both thoroughly familiar with contesting the business end of a major. In Tecau’s case, that reservoir of experience encompasses some particularly painful memories. Together with the Swedish veteran Robert Lindstedt, the Romanian contested the Wimbledon men’s doubles final three times in three years between 2010 and 2012. On each occasion, his afternoon ended in heartbreak. It is a tale of Wimbledon woe that might bring tears to the eyes even of Britain’s Tim Henman, four times a losing semi-finalist in SW19 (as if anyone needed reminding). As for Rojer, with five grand slam semi-final defeats in men’s doubles behind him, he too has demons to slay. The good news for the duo is that they’re heading in the right direction, having already gone one stage further at the All England Club than they managed at this year’s French and Australian Opens, where they reached the last four. They’ll also be encouraged by wins over Murray and Peers in Bucharest last year and Rotterdam this, although the Briton and his partner did get the better of them en route to the Brisbane International title at the beginning of this year.
