Jamie Murray can become the most successful British player in the Open era today when he tries to win the mixed doubles title at the Australian Open.
Victory for the Scot together with the American Bethanie Mattek-Sands over Barbora Krejikova of the Czech Republic and Nikola Mektic of Croatia would give Murray his eighth grand slam title, putting him one ahead of Virginia Wade.
While Andy Murray’s three grand slam singles titles and two Olympic gold medals have assured his place in history, Jamie’s grand slam tally continues to grow, thanks in large part to his prowess in mixed doubles, with five of his seven slams coming in the less-seen format of the game.
“I didn’t know that,” he said. “It’s not something I’d ever thought about but I guess that’s a cool record to have. But I’ve not done it yet.”
Mixed doubles is often regarded as the black sheep of the sport. Played only at the four grand slam events, it has significantly lower prize money than the other events and few of the top singles players bother to play it.
Murray’s first grand slam title came in mixed doubles at Wimbledon in 2007 with Serbia’s Jelena Jankovic but for a while, he chose not to play as he tried to win grand slam titles in men’s doubles.
Once he had won two of those, with his former partner Bruno Soares of Brazil, his focus began to change and another Wimbledon title in 2017, with Martina Hingis, and three straight US Open titles, one with Hingis and two with Mattek-Sands have elevated his status.
“Well there was a period (when he didn’t play),” Murray said. “One, I didn’t have a regular partner and a few times I was doing well in the (mixed) doubles and quite happy just to focus on that, because sometimes if you’re still going in mixed it takes up more time on the court, more time at the courts, more energy especially here when it can be so hot.
“Then I got the chance to play with Hingis. I thought I can’t say no to that, it worked out great then next year got the chance to play with Beth, another great partner.
“We can win and I’ll enjoy doing it at the same time, so that was a lot more motivating for me rather than pitch up and just sign with someone random just for the sake of playing. That’s how I looked at it.”
Mattek-Sands, who has won nine slam titles in doubles and mixed, joked that she and Murray got together on “Tennis Tinder”, though Murray’s memory was slightly different.
“She texted me and asked me to play,” he said. “I was like, I have got to play with Beth. I have lost to her so many times. She is so cool at mixed doubles. For me, I cannot pass this up. I have got to do it. It has been great.”
“We play great together, we have won two US Opens, (in) the final again now. We are a good team. It’s fun to go out and play Beth, she is great energy on the court, a great player as well. For me, every time I enter a tournament with Beth I feel we have a great chance to go on and win the tournament.”
Gordon Reid won his second Australian Open doubles title – and his 12th grand slam title in all – when he and Englishman Alfie Hewett came from a set down to beat Stephane Houdet and Nicolas Peifer of France 4-6, 6-4, 10-7.
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