Murray and Hingis hold a trophy aloft each and they look over the moon with that. Rightly so, too. Anyway, thanks a lot for your company. Bye!
Oh, and here’s a ruddy good old chat with the Wimbledon women’s singles champion:
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Just the presentations are left on Centre Court, after Murray/Hingis wrapped up that match inside 71 minutes. It was no whitewash, however, with Kontinen and Watson putting up quite the fight.
Well, you would never know there was a winner and a loser after that. Everybody’s all smiles. Murray’s dishing out some of his kit – fresh and mucky – to those fans inside Centre Court. Watson and Kontinen impressed in their own way, too, and can be very happy with the progress they have made in this competition. Last year’s winners have had a great run again.
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Murray/Hingis win mixed doubles 6-4, 6-4!
They’ve done it! That final game was a jam-packed with a whole myriad of shots: a divine Watson backhand, a ludicrous Kontinen forehand, and a timely Watson error that allowed Murray and Hingis back in to take the crown on Centre Court. Judy Murray’s pretty happy with that too, clapping down on them.
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First set: Mur/Hin 6-4, 5-4 Kon/Wat* (*denotes server)
Watson misses a crucial interception after a smart backhand but Kontinen’s serve digs them out of a hole. They’re all smiles again.
First set: Mur/Hin* 6-4, 5-3 Kon/Wat (*denotes server)
Kontinen goes a little long and Watson a little wide (she apologises after waking up a ball boy) and you just get the feeling this one’s getting away from them now. Hingis’ final serve at 40-0 is an ace and it’s almost job done.
First set: Mur/Hin 6-4, 4-3 Kon/Wat* (*denotes server)
A powderpuff lob by Murray gives Kontinen a route back in, putting away his return with a rasping backhand. He saves a break point but they can only hold off Jamie Murray for so long. Watson shrieks as Murray and Hingis break. A second set feels close now ...
First set: Mur/Hin* 6-4, 3-3 Kon/Wat (*denotes server)
Hingis sends a backhand low into the net, and that’s all the initiative Watson needs, as she does brilliantly with a couple of backhands to take advantage at deuce. Murray and Hingis survive two break points before an ace sees them take the game.
It’s all getting very tactical out there too, with both pairs whispering the plan for each serve to one another. Murray conceals his mouth with two luminous tennis balls – brilliant.
First set: Mur/Hin 6-4, 2-3 Kon/Wat* (*denotes server)
Watson ducks and Kontinen smashes a forehand straight down the middle of the court. Watson lets out a big, cheesy smile as she gets back to her feet. A crashing serve at 0-40 sees them wrap up the game in style.
First set: Mur/Hin* 6-4, 2-2 Kon/Wat (*denotes server)
Just as Kontinen dictates things with Watson, it looks as though Hingis wears the trousers as such with Murray. Kontinen and Watson come back from 15-40 down to level at deuce. Watson does brilliantly with a fierce, dipping backhand. It’s not enough, though, as Murray and Hingis prevail.
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First set: Mur/Hin 6-4, 1-2 Kon/Wat* (*denotes server)
Kontinen outsmarts Murray to land a tight backhand close to the net at 15-40. All four players look they’re having a great time out there, which is great to see.
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First set: Mur/Hin* 6-4, 1-1 Kon/Wat (*denotes server)
Murray gets a little lucky at the net but he’s always ready to strike. He does brilliantly to then volley a low pickup and Watson is too slow to react to his backhand. Lovely stuff.
Second set: Mur/Hin 6-4, 0-1 Kon/Wat* (*denotes server)
Watson hands the serve to Kontinen, who, of course, smashes in an ace with his first. He follows it up with a superb backhand down the line. Kontinen is very much dictating their approach, but it’s largely been working. He can’t help Watson’s long, looping forehand but it doesn’t matter as they take the game.
Murray/Hingis take first set 6-4 against Kontinen/Watson!
A crashing Murray backhand seals the first set in favour of the British-Swiss hybrid. Judy Murray with a mini fist pump to celebrate.
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First set: Mur/Hin 5-4 Kon/Wat* (*denotes server)
Kontinen’s serve overpowers Murray and Hingis at 15-40. He basically won that game on his own.
First set: Mur/Hin* 5-3 Kon/Wat (*denotes server)
Hingis’ serve is not causing too many problems but Murray is having a lot of joy at the net, batting away returns with smart volleys. A stupendous – if fortuitous – return, off of his back sees Murray and Hingis take the game and establish a little breathing space.
First set: Mur/Hin 4-3 Kon/Wat* (*denotes server)
Kontinen is twice guilty of trying to take on too much and although Watson almost gets them out of a hole with an ace, Murray at the net clinches the game and the break of serve.
First set: Mur/Hin* 3-3 Kon/Wat (*denotes server)
Anything you can do, we can do better. This is a good game. Meanwhile, John Inverdale’s talking about Tallinn, and he says don’t bother going at weekends. Back to the tennis ...
First set: Mur/Hin 2-3 Kon/Wat* (*denotes server)
Kontinen and Watson could have wrapped that up a little earlier, but the Finn’s forehand goes a little long. His serve will go a long way to dictating the outcome of this one, you feel. It’s an interesting match up: the defending champions against the hot favourites.
First set: Mur/Hin* 2-2 Kon/Wat (*denotes server)
Hingis’ wildhand forehand allows Kontinen and Watson back in, and her serve is not devious enough to force Kontinen in to a mistake on the return. He obliges, by powering back and leaving Murray out of luck at the net.
First set: Mur/Hin 2-1 Kon/Wat* (*denotes server)
Murray and Hingis look so relaxed out there, they’re just having fun out on Centre Court. Their game is smart and tactical, and their court coverage allows them to grab the latest game at 40-30.
First set: Mur/Hin* 1-1 Kon/Wat (*denotes server)
Jamie Murray wraps up that one with a bruising ace. Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge have stuck around for this one too. Staggeringly, it’s 10 years since Jamie won this title with Elena Jankovic.
First set: Mur/Hin 0-1 Kon/Wat* (*denotes server)
Henri Kontinen hurts Jamie Murray with a couple of big serves and the Finn and Heather Watson high-five to celebrate taking the first game.
The players are walking down those stairs and out onto centre court. We’ll be underway in no time.
Preamble
After witnessing Roger Federer write history on Centre Court, and watching footage of Garbiñe Muguruza bask with her new-found title as a Wimbledon champion, you could be forgiven for thinking it was all over for another year. But you would be wrong, as next up is the mixed doubles final, with two loveable Brits in action, against each other. There’s Jamie Murray and Martina Hingis v Henri Kontinen and Heather Watson, and it will be on the way here very shortly.
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