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Wimbledon 2017: Murray and Watson to face off in mixed doubles final

He’s played it cool all week but Jamie Murray could afford to let the emotions show as he reached his third Wimbledon final – with a British winner guaranteed either way.

It is ten years since a then 21-year-old Murray teamed up with Jelena Jankovic to secure an unlikely, but celebrated, win in the mixed doubles.

Since then Murray senior has become better known for his exploits in the men’s doubles, reaching the final at Wimbledon in 2015 before winning the Australian Open and US Open 12 months later – ascending to the world number one spot in same year.

He crashed out in the second round this year though but his SW19 adventure has continued this week thanks to a partnership with former number one and multiple Grand Slam champion Martina Hingis.

It’s all set up to be an exciting final on Sunday too with fellow Brit Watson and Finn Henri Kontinen – the reigning champions – lining up on the opposite site of the net.

“I hope the run continues and it’s cool to be back in the final – we played some amazing tennis again out there and it was a lot of fun to be out on Centre Court again,” said Murray after he and Hingis saw off Marcelo Demoliner and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez 6-2 7-5 in a little over an hour.

“The first set was almost too quick – we were in the zone!

“We’re confident, we’re playing well – it will be a tough match in the final I’m sure, but it will be a tough match for them as well.”

Watson and Kontinen’s 6-4 6-7 6-3 win over Bruno Soares – Murray’s usual men’s doubles partner – and Elena Vesnina ensures a Brit will be lifting the trophy come Sunday.

Watson, however, was refusing to get drawn into any pre-match mind games.

“It’s just another match really. It’s great that two Brits are in the final but it doesn’t really make any difference,” she said,

“They are both great players and it should be a really fun match.

“The atmosphere is going to be great, it’s a final and either way there’s going to be some really great tennis so it will be fun to play in.

“We’re just going to stay positive and play our own game.”


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