• Wimbledon, Day 13

Marray breaks British drought with doubles triumph

ESPN staff
July 7, 2012
Jonathan Marray and his partner Frederik Nielsen celebrate victory © Getty Images
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Jonathan Marray became the first Brit in 76 years to win the men's doubles at Wimbledon, after he and partner Frederik Nielsen won in five sets on Saturday.

Coming onto Centre Court in the hours after Serena Williams' memorably singles victory - and hours before Andy Murray attempts to break another long-standing British drought at SW19 - Marray and his partner overcame fifth seeds Robert Lindstedt and Horia Tecau 4-6 6-4 7-6 6-7 6-3.

Not since 1936 has a British man won the men's doubles - while Nielsen becomes the first ever Dane to claim a title at the All England Club.

It is also the first tournament victory for the pair, who were handed a wildcard into the draw.

"We can't believe it," Marray said on the court afterwards. "It's tough to sink in. I don't know what to say.

"I was more nervous in the changing rooms. When we got out there everyone wanted us to do well."

After losing the first set when Nielsen's serve was broken, the duo fought back to claim the upper-hand after a fraught tiebreak in the third stanza. After a short delay to close the roof the pair had a chance to win it all at the same stage in the fourth, but their opponents rallied to send the contest to a decider.

Having seemingly been on the verge of victory, Marray and Nielsen could have been forgiven for getting disenchanted, but instead the pair upped their game and - after breaking Tecau's serve early in the stanza - Marray eventually managed to serve out the contest and rewrite the record books.

"It's insane," said Nielsen. "If you had told me three weeks ago I wouldn't have believed you. It's by far the best think I've ever experienced in tennis. The crowd got us going."

Patrick Hughes and Raymond Tuckey were the British winners 76 years ago, while the last British finalists appeared in 1960.

Jamie Murray, brother of Andy, partnered with Jelena Jankovic to win the mixed doubles in 2007.

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