Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza fight back to clinch Wimbledon women's doubles title

  • Russian pair Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina took the first set 7-5
  • First seeds Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza win tie break in second set
  • Hingis and Mirza proved too strong for the Russian pair in the decider
  • Veteran Swiss Hingis will contest the mixed doubles final on Sunday 

The fairytale comeback continued for Martina Hingis as the 34-year-old claimed her first Wimbledon title since 1998 with Indian partner Sania Mirza in a thrilling ladies’ doubles final which finished under the floodlights on Centre Court.

Seventeen years after Hingis won the doubles at the age of 17 with Jana Novotna, the Swiss tasted victory once again at SW19, fighting back from a set down with Mirza to beat the accomplished Russian pair Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina 5-7, 7-6 (4), 7-5 in two hours and 25 minutes.

Hingis will have a chance on Sunday to claim another title here when she teams up with Indian Leander Paes in the mixed doubles final against Alexander Peya and Timea Babos.

Martina Hingis (left) claimed her first Wimbledon title since 1998 with Indian partner Sania Mirza

Martina Hingis (left) claimed her first Wimbledon title since 1998 with Indian partner Sania Mirza

The 34-year-old fought back from a set down with Mirza to beat Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina

The 34-year-old fought back from a set down with Mirza to beat Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina

Since returning to the tour in the summer of 2013, Hingis has focused purely on doubles and has worked her way up to No 2 in the WTA doubles rankings behind Mirza. She won her first Grand Slam title for nine years in the mixed doubles with Paes at the Australian Open earlier this year.

Makarova and Vesnina were fired up from the start to add an All England Club championship to their 2013 French Open and 2014 US Open titles, and the pair crucially broke for 6-5 before a Vesnina volley sealed the first set 7-5 in 39 minutes.

Hingis and Mirza pose alongside their accomplished Russian opponents before the match

Hingis and Mirza pose alongside their accomplished Russian opponents before the match

Makarova and Vesnina crucially broke for 6-5 before a Vesnina volley sealed the first set 7-5

Makarova and Vesnina crucially broke for 6-5 before a Vesnina volley sealed the first set 7-5

A tight second set went to a tiebreak and the hardy fans who stayed late were in raptures as Hingis and Mirza took the second set, though Hingis was then forced to call the trainer due to a thigh problem.

Makarova and Vesnina looked to be on the cusp of victory, serving for the match at 5-3. However, Hingis and Mirza played a stunning game to break back.

Play was then suspended for 10 minutes as the roof shut due to bad light, before Hingis and Mirza returned to complete the comeback win.

Indian tennis ace Mirza entered her maiden final at Wimbledon and rallied in the second set with Hingis

Indian tennis ace Mirza entered her maiden final at Wimbledon and rallied in the second set with Hingis

With the deciding set tied at 5-5 the retractable roof was closed to add to the suspense on Centre Court

With the deciding set tied at 5-5 the retractable roof was closed to add to the suspense on Centre Court

 

 

The comments below have not been moderated.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now