Sem Verbeek has won the title in the mixed doubles on Wimbledon. The 31-year-old Amsterdammer celebrated the greatest success in his tennis career with the Czech Katerina Siniakova by his side. The couple beat the British/Brazilian duo Joe Salisbury/Luisa Stefani at the Center Court in two sets: 7-6 (3) 7-6 (3).
Verbeek is the second Dutchman who wins Wimbledon in the mixed double. The legendary Betty Stöve preceded him. Stöve even won twice, in 1978 and 1981, with the South African Frew McMillan as a partner.
Verbeek reached the semi -finals in the men’s doubles earlier this year on the Australian Open. He played there with the Swede André Göransson.
Eleventh grand slam title
The 29-year-old Siniakova already won her eleventh grand slam title. She already had ten in the women’s doubles, with Verbeek she grabbed her first in the mixed double. The Czech is also the Olympic champion in the mixed doubles. She conquered the gold in Paris together with Tomas Machac.
The first set in the final went right. Both couples always won their storage, followed by the tiebreak. They won Verbeek and Siniakova with 7-3.
In the second set, Verbeek and Siniakova struck with a break in the third game. Stefani then took a medical time-out for injury treatment. The Brazilian was able to continue, but Verbeek and Siniakova were running out to 4-2. After that, the competition suddenly turned in the direction of Salisbury and Stefani, who won three games in a row and prevented 5-4. The Dutch-Czech duo, with Siniakova as a constant factor, still dragged a tiebreak out. Verbeek focused on this. The Amsterdammer served at 6-3 for the first match point, Siniakova finished it.
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