Heather Watson and Henri Kontinen win Wimbledon 2016 mixed doubles

Heather Watson of Great Britain and Henri Kontinen of Finland celebrate victory in the Mixed Doubles Final
Julian Finney/Getty Images
Tom Allnut11 July 2016

Britain's Heather Watson joined Andy Murray in becoming a Wimbledon champion as she won the mixed doubles title with Finland's Henri Kontinen.

Watson and Kontinen had never played together before this tournament but the new duo beat Colombia's Robert Farah and Anna-Lena Groenefeld 7-6 (7/5) 6-4 to seal their first grand slam title.

The British number two had never gone past the third round in either the singles or doubles of a grand slam before and after victory was confirmed, she skipped around Centre Court in delight.

Watson will share the £100,000 winners' prize with Kontinen and her triumph is also timely with the Olympic Games in Rio just around the corner.

"It's pretty awesome," Watson told the BBC after the match.

"I can't really describe how happy I am right now. I obviously can't stop smiling, I couldn't have picked anyone better to share this experience with.

"We had so much fun from the first point to the last one. I think that's why we did so well and played so well together."

Turning to Kontinen, Watson added: "Thanks for putting up with me!"

Kontinen said: "There was nothing to put up with. I don't remember having this much fun on a tennis court probably ever.

"It was a dream ride we had this week and we loved every minute of it."

Watson's win made it four British successes in a day as Gordon Reid beat Stefan Olsson to secure the men's wheelchair singles title while Jordanne Whiley and her partner Yui Kamiji won the ladies' wheelchair doubles.

Following Murray's sensational victory over Milos Raonic on Centre Court was no easy task but Watson and Kontinen showed few signs of nerves, with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge both watching on from the Royal Box.

The first set was tight all the way through and with no breaks of serve, it had to be determined in a tie-break.

Watson and Kontinen stormed into a 3-0 lead as Watson tried to serve to the wrong side before her partner politely corrected her, much to the amusement of the crowd.

She won that one and then another to extend the advantage to five but Farah and Groenefeld roared back, the latter punching away a forehand volley to level at 5-5.

Watson and Kontinen recovered their composure to win the next two points as Groenefeld dumped a volley into the net to hand away the set.

The second frame was more straightforward as a break at 3-3 gave Kontinen the chance to serve for the title.

He double faulted once but settled his nerves to close out, an emphatic smash confirming victory.

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