Worth the wait as Murray and Hingis claim Wimbledon mixed doubles title

Jamie Murray made Martina Hingis sweat over her request to play together in the Wimbledon mixed doubles but their partnership paid off as they beat Heather Watson and Henri Kontinen to win the title on Sunday.

Murray and Hingis beat defending champions Watson and Kontinen 6-4 6-4 as Murray sealed his second grand slam title in mixed doubles, 10 years after winning his first here with Jelena Jankovic.

Hingis texted Murray before the start of the tournament to ask him to be her partner at SW19 and the Swiss admits she was made to wait for an answer.

“It was just like, ‘Hi Jamie, want to play with me?’ Just got to keep it simple. I think that’s what matters,” Hingis said.

“He left me hanging overnight. I was like, ‘Oh my God, did he read it? Did he not?’ It worked out, definitely.”

It is 20 years since Hingis edged past Jana Novotna to win her first Wimbledon title on Centre Court and the 36-year-old now has six major mixed doubles triumphs to add to her 12 in women’s doubles and five in singles.

Murray was also trying to win his third major title in men’s doubles at Wimbledon alongside Bruno Soares and the Scot said he would have said no to any other mixed doubles partner.

“The men’s doubles for me is obviously my biggest goal of the year,” Murray said.

“It’s going to take something pretty special to potentially take my eye off the ball with it.”

Hingis added, with a smile: “I’m not used to ‘no’. I don’t take ‘no’ as an answer pretty much. But I would understand especially here, it’s always tough.”

The pair said they had not yet discussed extending their partnership for future tournaments but they formed a potent team, winning the title without dropping a single set.

“I really enjoyed the whole week. It’s a great achievement,” Murray said.

“Any time you win a grand slam and get your name up on the board again, it’s there forever. No-one will take it away from you.”

Murray’s younger brother Andy, who lost in the singles quarter-finals on Wednesday, is usually too nervous to watch his sibling in person but the three-time major champion was keeping tabs close by.

“I just saw him there,” Jamie said. “He said he came like in the middle of the first set. I think he just waited in the locker rooms.

“He said he didn’t watch it. I don’t know if he snuck a few points in or not.”

Murray and Hingis share the winners’ cheque of £100,000 while Watson and Kontinen split the £50,000 runners-up prize.