The mixed doubles came to a fitting conclusion at Wimbledon on Thursday night, a healthy crowd staying late on Centre Court to watch a dramatic final, with Britain’s Joe Salisbury falling agonisingly short of a first Wimbledon title as he and Brazil’s Luisa Stefani went down 7-6 (3), 7-6 (3) to Czech Katerina Siniakova and Sam Verbeek of the Netherlands. It was a first mixed slam title for Siniakova and her 11th in all while Verbeek picked up his maiden major.
But as the celebrations and commiserations began, thoughts turned quickly to the US Open, where, unless there are some late changes to the rules, none of the four finalists will even be in the field. For the first time, the mixed doubles will be played over two days in the week before the main draws begin in New York, the week usually reserved for qualifying. With $1m on offer to the winners and just 16 pairs, the top eight pairs by combined singles rankings will gain acceptance and the remaining eight pairs will be determined by wildcards.
Sem Verbeek celebrates with partner Katerina Siniakova as they win the mixed doubles final on Centre Court. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
But with the likes of Nick Kyrgios and Naomi Osaka, Jannik Sinner and Emma Navarro, and Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu already on the list, there is very little room for regular doubles players, with the Italians Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, the reigning champions, currently the only recognised mixed doubles pair in the lineup. “I think it’s disappointing, obviously, that we won’t be able to play,” Salisbury said. “It’s a shame they don’t have the full event during the two weeks of the main draw. I think they could have both that and the regular format.”
Salisbury, meanwhile, must be wondering what he needs to do to win a Wimbledon title. Six times a grand slam champion elsewhere, the Briton’s hopes of becoming the eighth home winner of the mixed doubles title ended in two tie-breaks, the crack pairing of Siniakova and Verbeek coming out on top with some scintillating play.
“It’s always tough to lose a final but they played amazing,” Salisbury said. “They were too good in the tie-breaks today. Thank you to Luisa. You’ve been amazing and thanks for texting me two days before the sign-in to ask to play with me. It has been a pleasure and hopefully we can do it again.”
Siniakova is world No 1 in women’s doubles but relished her first mixed doubles crown. “It’s very special, it means a lot. We had a lot of fun on the court and I really enjoyed it, it was a really amazing time here,” she said.
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Julian Cash (left) and Lloyd Glasspool celebrate winning the men’s doubles semi-final against Marcel Granollers of Spain and Horacio Zeballos of Argentina. Photograph: Dan Istitene/Getty Images
Meanwhile, Open era history could be made on Saturday after Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool beat the No 4 seeds, Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos, 6-3, 6-4 to make the men’s doubles final. They are the first all-British pair to make the final since 1960 and will take on Australia’s Rinky Hijikata and Dutchman David Pel, who edged out the top seeds, Marcelo Arevalo of El Salvador and Mate Pavic of Croatia, in a final-set tie-break.
The men’s doubles final will be played before the women’s singles final.