Sania Makes History | Mirza, Hingis win women’s doubles Wimbledon title

Sania Mirza and her partner Martina Hingis staged a scintillating fightback to claim the Wimbledon women’s doubles title under the Centre Court roof lights.

The top-seeded Indo-Swiss pair claimed a 5-7, 7-6(4), 7-5 win over Russians Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina on Saturday.

It was the top seeds’ first Grand Slam title as a team having only decided to play together in March this year.

Hingis won the Wimbledon doubles with Helena Sukova in 1996 and Jana Novotna in 1998.

Sania was playing her first doubles final at Wimbledon while former world singles number one Hingis lifted the trophy with Helena Sukova in 1996 and Jana Novotna in 1998.

“For a match like this, the No.1 and No.2 seeds playing, it was the best match you could have asked for the tournament. It was unbelievably exciting. It was exciting to play. I really hope it was exciting to watch, too,” Sania was quoted as saying by Wimbledon.com

“It’s been another lifetime. Seventeen 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,” said Hingis who was also the singles champion at Wimbledon in 1997.

Mirza praised the support she and Hingis received throughout the tournament and hoped her win will have a positive impact back home in cricket-mad India.

“I hope it inspires a lot of girls and makes them believe they can be Grand Slam champions too,” she said.

“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. In England especially I’ve always had amazing support.”

Hingis can be back amongst the silverware on Sunday when she and Leander Paes face Alexander Peya and Timea Babos in the mixed doubles championship match.

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