Bryan/Raymond topples Paes/Vesnina to lift the crown – Wimbledon Championships 2012
American duo of Mike Bryan and Lisa Raymond got the better of the Indo-Russian tandem, Leander Paes and Elena Vesnina, in a three-set thriller at the Wimbledon Championships 2012 on Sunday. They clobbered a 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 victory against the fourth seeds
to click the mixed doubles title at this third of the four Grand Slam events held in London, England.
The second seeded Americans lifted their third title together after outclassing their lower ranked opponents at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon. They required two hours and 24 minutes to formulate the victory and capture the prize
money at this prestigious grass court tournament.
“It was a blast playing with Lisa all week. Obviously the match was up and down. We could have closed it out there in straights,” said the beaming Bryan. “Unfortunately, I got broken. We had match points. She's pretty resilient. We fought through the adversity.
She kept raising her game and kind of carried me through the finish.”
Bryan and Raymond high spiritedly entered the Centre Court and smoothly held their entire serves after warding off the lone breakpoint they came across. The Americans capitalised on one out of two break chances and bagged the opener with a 6-3 win in just
under half an hour.
The Indo-Russian team re-focused in the follow-up set and brilliantly fended off five out of six breakpoints they faced. They quickly snatched their break back early in the set and then got the breakthrough after cashing in another break chance near the
end, subsequently sealing the equaliser by winning seven games to five.
The ultra-fit American duo re-gained their early momentum in the final set which matter the most. They magnificently warded off three out of four breakpoints they encountered and capitalised on two out of five break opportunities, eventually sealing the
decider with a 6-4 success in 44 minutes.
Bryan and Raymond previously clinched the titles at the Roland Garros in 2003 and the US Open in 2002.
The high flying veteran junction are looking forward to play the London Olympics.
“It's good to rekindle a special bond we have. We're looking forward to hopefully playing the Olympics,” Bryan reflected. “That's why we jumped in here.”
The Indo-Russian collaboration was runner-up for the second time this season. Paes and Vesnina last displayed their superb skills at the Australian Open where they lose to Horia Tecau and Bethanie Mattek-Sands in the title-round.
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