OTHER

Hingis wins Wimbledon mixed doubles for 2 titles in 2 days

Jul 12, 2015, 1:12 PM

Leander Paes of India, left, and Martina Hingis of Switzerland hold up the trophies after winning t...

Leander Paes of India, left, and Martina Hingis of Switzerland hold up the trophies after winning the mixed doubles final against Alexander Peya of Austria and Timea Babos of Hungary at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Sunday July 12, 2015. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

(AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

LONDON (AP) — Martina Hingis keeps adding to her collection of Wimbledon trophies.

The 34-year-old Swiss paired with Leander Paes of India on Sunday to win the mixed doubles title, beating Alexander Peya and Timea Babos 6-1, 6-1 under the roof on Centre Court.

The 40-minute win gave Hingis her 11th Grand Slam doubles title and second in two days, after she combined with India’s Sania Mirza to win the women’s doubles on Saturday, coming from 5-2 down in the final set to beat Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina 5-7, 7-6 (4), 7-5.

Hingis became the first player to win both the women’s and mixed doubles titles at the All England Club since Cara Black in 2004.

These are the first titles at Wimbledon for Hingis since she won the women’s doubles in 1998. She also won the singles championship in 1997 and the women’s doubles in 1996.

“It feels like it’s a lifetime away,” Hingis said. “The one yesterday, obviously after 17 years last time here, the match, also the way we won it, was so much drama, coming back from 5-2 down.

“Today, I think the confidence that it gave me yesterday, to come out today with Leander, he was striking the ball, winners right and left. It was incredible, the chemistry we had today.”

Hingis, who reached No. 1 in the rankings and won five Grand Slam singles titles in the 1990s, initially quit tennis in 2002 because of foot and leg injuries, then rejoined the circuit full-time in 2006. She announced her retirement again in 2007, when she was given a two-year suspension for testing positive for cocaine at Wimbledon. At the time, she denied taking the drug but did not appeal the ruling.

Hingis and Paes also won the mixed doubles title at the Australian Open this year. Sunday’s win gave Paes 16 Grand Slam doubles titles, eight of them in mixed.

“It’s hard to really say which one is the best one out of all of them,” he said. “But coming out and playing like that on one of the most prestigious courts that we’ve grown up with, and winning a title like that, again for the second time in a Grand Slam without losing a set, that is really special.”

In 2003, Paes won the mixed doubles at Wimbledon with another Martina — Navratilova. Hingis was named after Navratilova.

“You can’t compare the two,” Paes said. “They’re just two great legends of the game. In 2003, with Navratilova, and 2015 with Martina Hingis, to be able to be on the court with great champions like this, it’s something really special.”

It was a truly special weekend for India, with Mirza and Paes securing Grand Slam titles on consecutive days on the biggest stage in the game.

“That’s the beautiful thing about India,” Paes said. “We’re a big country with so many different cultures, religions, community, people from all different walks of life. To me that’s what India stands for.”

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Other

Associated Press

Royals rally on Murphy’s error, beat Mets, lead Series 3-1

The Kansas City Royals keep finding new ways to win this October. And now with one more victory in November, they will be World Series champions.

9 years ago

...

Associated Press

Shock beat Mercury in final regular-season game before move

Rookie Brianna Kiesel scored a career-best 28 points to help the Shock beat the Phoenix Mercury 91-87 Sunday in the team's final regular-season home game before the franchise moves to Dallas next year.

9 years ago

Follow @AZSports...

Arizona Sports

Fox Sports’ Mike Pereira wants high school football team suspended for vicious hit on official

If Fox Sports NFL rules anyalist Mike Pereira had his way, a high school football team in Texas would forfit its season for the conduct of two its players on a game official Friday.

9 years ago

Calais Campbell (93) is wrapped up by guard Mike Iupati after coming down with an interception duri...

Adam Green

Notes from the Nest: Arizona Cardinals training camp – Aug. 4

Tuesday's afternoon practice had a different feel to it because Carson Palmer did not participate.

9 years ago

Arizona Sports

Mardy Fish handed first-round loss to Dudi Sela in Atlanta

The first stop of Mardy Fish's farewell tour ended quickly with a 6-4, 6-4 first-round loss to Dudi Sela in the Atlanta Open on Tuesday night.

9 years ago

UEFA President Michel Platini watches the preliminary draw for the 2018 soccer World Cup in Konstan...

Arizona Sports

AP Sources: Michel Platini will run for FIFA president

Michel Platini will run for FIFA president and plans to announce his intentions this week.

9 years ago

Hingis wins Wimbledon mixed doubles for 2 titles in 2 days