Marray, not Murray, ends Britain's Wimbledon wait

LONDON (AFP) –

Denmark’s Frederik Nielsen (L) and Britain’s Jonathan Marray celebrate their men’s doubles final victory over Sweden’s Robert Lindstedt and Romania’s Horia Tecau during the 2012 Wimbledon Championships tennis tournament at the All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London. Marray and Nielsen won the match 4-6, 6-4, 7-6, 6-7, 6-3.

Jonathan Marray became Britain’s first Wimbledon men’s doubles champion since 1936 when he and Danish partner Frederik Nielsen beat Robert Lindstedt of Sweden and Romania’s Horia Tecau in Saturday’s final.

Unseeded Marray and Nielsen, who only asked for a wildcard on the eve of the event, defeated the fifth seeds 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (5/7), 6-3 under the Centre Court roof.

Patrick Hughes and Raymond Tuckey were the last British winners of the doubles in 1936.

Marray won praise in the match for owning up to having touched the net as he attempted a volley, an action which meant a penalty point to the opposition.

“Freddy had a great serve. I had a sitter on top of the net. As I hit the volley, I followed through and touched the top of the net. So basically it’s their point,” said the 31-year-old Englishman, who had never got beyond the third round before.

“We both knew it, so you own up to it.”

Britain’s Jonathan Marray plays a shot at the net during his men’s doubles final at the All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London. Marray became Britain’s first Wimbledon men’s doubles champion since 1936 when he and Nielsen beat Lindstedt and Tecau in Saturday’s final.

Marray and Nielsen achieved victory the hard way, knocking out defending champions Bob and Mike Bryan of the United States in the semi-finals and playing three five-setters to get through the first, second and fourth rounds.

Fred Perry was Britain’s last men’s singles winner, also in 1936, a date that Andy Murray hopes to consign to history when he faces Roger Federer in Sunday’s final.

“Everyone’s hoping for him to win. He’s come so close in a lot of Grand Slams so many times before. He’s working hard and he’s right at the top of his game. I don’t see why he can’t,” added Marray.

Nielsen has now gone one better than his grandfather Kurt who was runner-up in the men’s singles in 1953 and 1955.

“Maybe because of my family history I have a different relationship with Wimbledon. That’s possible,” said the Dane.

“But I don’t think the fact that my granddad used to do well is going to make it even more special. I think the fact that it is just Wimbledon, it carries its name by itself pretty well.”

Lindstedt and Tecau have now finished runners-up for three successive years at Wimbledon.