The Czech-American team of Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend are Wimbledon champions after beating No.2 seeds Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe in the ladies’ doubles final on Centre Court.
The No.4 seeds’ 7-6(5), 7-6(1) victory late on Saturday evening under the lights earns them their first title together as a pair in only their third tournament alongside one another.
While it is Siniakova's third Wimbledon doubles trophy and a ninth major title overall, Townsend gets to taste Grand Slam success for the first time having finished runner-up in doubles finals at both the US Open and Roland-Garros in the past.
The result completes a remarkable couple of months for Siniakova who makes it back-to-back majors on two different surfaces - with two different partners - after landing the Roland-Garros title in June with Coco Gauff.
Siniakova and Townsend saved two set points in the opener and recovered from 0-3 in the first set tie-break before dominating the second shootout of the final to wrap up a memorable result after two hours and 4 minutes.
It completed a remarkable day for Czech tennis on Centre Court after Barbora Krejcikova - Siniakova’s former doubles partner - had earlier beaten Italy’s Jasmine Paolini to claim the second Grand Slam singles title of her career.
There is one consolation for Routliffe however who, despite the result, will move to No.1 in the WTA doubles rankings on Monday.
“I’m so glad Katerina slid in my DMs,” Townsend said afterwards, describing how they first discussed playing together on social media.
“It was an unconventional way that we got together but I’m so fortunate that we’re able to team up.
“She’s amazing and has been on this stage many times before. In my first Grand Slam final she kicked my butt and it stung so I’m really glad we’re on the same side of the net.
“I’ve been close a couple of times so it really means a lot to be able to get over the finish line here and to do it at Wimbledon is so special.”
In a final that started late after a thrilling men’s doubles on Centre, chances to break were scarce during the opening few games. The first came with Townsend serving at 2-3 before the American held to level after six games.
It was Routliffe who was under pressure next, facing her own break point at 3-4 but the chance for the Czech-American duo slipped away when a lob dropped a couple of inches long.
Routliffe and Dabrowski put themselves in prime position to win the opening set when they eventually broke Townsend to go 5-4 ahead.
But despite conjuring up two set points in the next game on serve they couldn’t finish it off and Townsend helped seal an immediate break back for 5-5 with a short volley.
Again, Routliffe and Dabrowski were in the driving seat when they sprinted into a 3-0 lead in the tiebreak only for the No.4 seeds to claw their way back before Siniakova sprang into life.
The 28-year-old former doubles world No.1 smoked a forehand return winner to bring up two set points with Dabrowski serving at 4-6. A first was saved before Siniakova pounced again, this time with a drive volley to clinch the tiebreak 7-5.
Dabrowski and Routliffe did an impressive job of staying in the match for as long as they could as the second set got under way. The Canadian-Kiwi team saved seven break points in total to eventually work their way into another tie-break.
This time though the shootout was a different story and Siniakova and Townsend dominated from the start.
The No.4 seeds jumped into a 5-0 lead and a few moments later a Routliffe double fault ended the tightest of finals.
After collecting their trophies, Siniakova was asked to reflect on the Czech success story on Wimbledon’s famous show court on Day 13 of The Championships.
“I’m so proud of Barbora,” she said of her friend and former doubles partner who she won seven Grand Slam doubles titles alongside.
“I’m happy that we could do it as well. I’m really proud that I’m from Czech Republic. We have so many players - and good players - so I’m just really happy that this day was amazing (for us)."
