Wimbledon Champions: Hingis and Mirza

After 17 long years, she was here again at SW 19, contesting in yet another final at the most prestigious Tennis event. She was elated like that 15 year old girl of the past, when she became the youngest Wimbledon Champion. Martina Hingis, the former numero uno, now paired with the formidable doubles player- Sania Mirza- who was looking to create another chapter for the history books, by clinching her first Women’s Doubles Grand Slam title. The pair was seeded first at the start of this year’s Championship.

But for most of the part of yesterday’s epic finale they looked to have bumped into a better pair, the Russian duo of Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina, seeded second. Four of them showcased about two and a half hours of some glorious doubles Tennis, that was lightened by the million dollar Centre Court roof.

After winning her last Wimbledon title in 1998, Hingis knew this was something special, a feeling that might have faded away over the years. “It feels like it was in another life,” said Hingis, about her triumph dating back to last century.

“But 17 years, usually you’re lucky to win it once or happy to be out here and play on the Wimbledon grounds. It’s above my expectations.” It has been no less than a fairytale for the Swiss, fighting controversies and coming back for the third time after hanging her boots.“I had one comeback when I came back in singles, now another one in doubles,” said Hingis.

“I always believed in it. Without that you can’t come out here and play and compete at this level.” she added.

The ever-smiling Sania Mirza, who has inspired every Indian to take up the sport and chase the dreams said, “To come out at Wimbledon Centre Court and have the whole crowd behind you is pretty incredible. But I think for me, as an Indian, I’m in little India here. There are so many Indians in England. Thankfully there are a lot of us everywhere, but in England especially I’ve always had amazing support.”

Sania, 28, won Junior Wimbledon Championship with Russian partner Alisa Kleybanova in 2003, at the very same court. The Indo-Swiss pair had the most difficult outing at the Centre Court before finally achieving probably the most memorable win of their careers. Makarova and Vesnina, proved why they’ve been on top not only in the Doubles game but also at their Singles careers.

Vesnina was unforgiving when it came to her groundstrokes and Makarova was matching her up with some glorious serves. They broke for 6-5 before a Vesnina volley bagged the first set 7-5 in 39 minutes.

The second set was a nail-biting affair as both pairs held on to their games and took the set to a tie-break. And to the delight of the Centre Court crowd, eager to see them battle in the third, Mirza-Hingis pair claimed the breaker after Hingis created a set point with an oil painting of a backhand winner down the line, converted by a smashing Mirza forehand to make it one set all.

The Russians broke Hingis in the fourth game of the decider to take a decisive 3-1 lead. Vesnina was phenomenal at the net, and her smash winners proved too hot to handle throughout the match. The Makarova serve failed her while serving for the championship at 5-3. With an extraordinary comeback by winning 5 games in a row, Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis, completed- what will go down as one of the finest comebacks in Wimbledon finals- A Dream Victory.