Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Sports

Mektic and Pavic become first all-Croatian pair to triumph at Wimbledon

Croatia's Mate Pavic and Nikola Mektic celebrate with the trophies after winning the men's doubles final against Spain's Marcel Granollers and Argentina's Horacio REUTERS/Paul Childs

Croatia’s Mate Pavic and Nikola Mektic celebrate with the trophies after winning theWimbledon  men’s doubles final against Spain’s Marcel Granollers and Argentina’s Horacio (REUTERS)

LONDON  – Top seeds Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic became the first all-Croatian pair to capture a Grand Slam men’s doubles title when they outclassed Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos 6-4 7-6(5) 2-6 7-5 at Wimbledon on Saturday.

On their second championship point, Mektic and Pavic made three unsuccessful attempts to smash the ball away for a winner before a running forehand long from the Spanish-Argentine duo handed the Croatians victory on a floodlit Centre Court.

Twenty years after Goran Ivanisevic hoisted the Challenge Cup at the All England Club after winning the men’s title in a rain-delayed Monday final, his compatriots claimed the doubles trophy at the grasscourt major.

“That ball falling long in the last point was the best feeling of my life,” Mektic, who was contesting his first major final with Pavic, said with a laugh.

“The last three matches we played were the best of my life.”

An emotional Pavic, with his voice quivering, added: “This is something special.

“We all grew up with Goran, it’s been 20 years now since he won that Monday final, and this is the first time since Croatia is winning another trophy here. I know it’s doubles but still it’s Wimbledon. I am super happy.”

It was a third men’s doubles title for Pavic, who had previously triumphed at 2018 Australian Open and 2020 U.S. Open with different partners.

gsg

Read Next

Don’t miss out on the latest news and information.

Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.

For feedback, complaints, or inquiries, contact us.

You May Also Like

World

France, which has opened its borders to Canadian tourists, is eager to see Canada reopen to the French. The Canadian border remains closed...

Health

Kashechewan First Nation in northern Ontario is experiencing a “deepening state of emergency” as a result of surging COVID-19 cases in the community...

World

The virus that causes COVID-19 could have started spreading in China as early as October 2019, two months before the first case was identified in the central city of Wuhan, a new study...

World

April Ross and Alix Klineman won the first Olympic gold medal for the United States in women’s beach volleyball since 2012 on Friday,...