Sports Emcee Andy Taylor | The Voice of the US Open | US Open
[divider style=”solid” color=”#cccccc” opacity=”0.5″ icon=”arrow-down” icon_color=”#666666″ icon_size=”15″ placement=”up”]
Bethanie Mattek-Sands -83- (USA) and Jamie Murray -07- (GBR) | 2019 Champions
What a fantastic atmosphere for a Mixed Doubles Final. The entire lower bowl of Arthur Ashe Stadium was packed with fans, who witnessed a tremendous comeback victory from American Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Great Britain’s Jamie Murray.
[vector_icon icon=”fas-fa arrow-circle-right”] def Alicija Rosolska -31- (POL) and Nikola Mektic -18- (CRO) | 26 63 [11-9]
As Bethanie shifted-gears from her emotional victory speech by encouraging fans to sing “Happy Birthday” to Jamie’s mom, Judy — no one could escape the incredulity of Bethanie and Jamie’s astonishing victory.
First: Bethanie’s comeback.
At Wimbledon in 2017, Bethanie Mattek-Sands ruptured her patella tendon and dislocated her kneecap during set-3 of a Round-2 singles match with Sorana Cirstea. It was gruesome.
Improbably — just 9-months-later — she returned to the Tour in Miami. At Wimbledon, she and Lucie Safarova (2016 US Open Champions) reached the Quarterfinals with a victory over the Doubles World #1 Barbora Strycova and partner Andrea Sestini Hlavackova. Progress.
Though she and Lucie fell to the top-seeds in Round-2 here in Flushing, she and Jamie endured in the Mixed Doubles draw — capturing the title by winning five consecutive matches that all ended in set-2 tiebreaks or match tiebreaks.
“Last year I was on crutches…this year I’m competing for a title…Anything is possible when you choose to CHOOSE your attitude, no matter what.”
Bethanie is now a 3-time Grand Slam Mixed Doubles Champion and 4-time Finalist. In 2012, she teamed with Horia Tecau to win the Australian Open. In 2015, she won Roland Garros with Mike Bryan. Later that Summer, she reached the US Open Final with partner Sam Querrey.
With her 5 Major Doubles titles, Bethanie now owns 8 Grand Slam titles overall.
Second: Jamie Murray, Mixed Doubles Ninja.
Jamie Murray captured his first Grand Slam title 11-years-ago at the Australian Open. He teamed with Jelena Jankovic to capture the Mixed Doubles title. In 2008, he was a Mixed Doubles Finalist here in Flushing with partner Liezel Huber. Today marked his 6th career Grand Slam Mixed Doubles Final, 3rd at the US Open.
Last year, he teamed with Martina Hingis to win both Wimbledon and the US Open. After Martina’s retirement, he jumped at the chance to be a part of Bathanie’s comeback — a decision that helped him defend his title, and earn his 4th Mixed Doubles Major.
With his 2016 Doubles victories at the Australian Open and US Open, Jamie is now a 6-time Grand Slam champion.
Third: The Championship Match Comeback.
Mektic and Rosolska broke Bethanie twice in the first set. The title felt like a foregone conclusion.
But in game-3 of set-2, Bethanie finally got one under her belt. She and Jamie earned their first break over Rosolska to serve for the set — where Murray delivered the tandem to a match tiebreak.
In the 10-point tiebreaker, Mektic and Rosolska drew first blood – breaking Murray early. But at the half-way mark, Bethanie broke Nikola with a tremendous lob. Jamie then doubled-down with a scorching return. Up 9-8, serving for it on match point #3, Murray dumped a volley into the net. Ouch. 9-all.
Jamie held his next serve, then he and Bethanie broke Alicija to claim the title. Mattek-Sands didn’t lose a single service point in the match tiebreak. Mind-blowing comeback, indeed.
[divider style=”solid” color=”#cccccc” opacity=”0.5″ icon=”fas fa-microphone” icon_color=”#666666″ icon_size=”23″ placement=”up”]
Bethanie Mattek-Sands -83- (USA) Jamie Murray -07- (GBR)
Combined, they own 12 Grand Slam titles, and both have been ranked as high as World #1. This afternoon, they’re competing in their first Grand Slam Final together, and reached today’s championship match with a match tie-break victory over American Wild Cards Christina McHale and Christian Harrison.
Bethanie Mattek-Sands
An Olympic Gold Medalist, and celebrated member of Team Bucie – she and doubles partner Lucie Safarova are 5-time Grand Slam Champions. In 2016, they captured their 3rd Major right here in Arthur Ashe Stadium; and this afternoon, she is competing in her 9th Grand Slam Final. A 2-time Mixed Doubles Champion, she won her first with partner Horia Tecau at the 2012 Australian Open, and her second at the 2015 French Open with Mike Bryan. Competing in her 2nd US Open Mixed Doubles Final, she and Sam Querrey reached the championship match here in New York 3 years ago. From Phoenix, Arizona – Please welcome…Bethanie Mattek-Sands
Jamie Murray
He is the defending Mixed Doubles Champion, and is competing in his 3rd US Open Mixed Doubles Final. A Finalist here with Liezel Huber in 2008, last year he teamed with Martina Hingis to capture the US Open title for the first time. Now a 10-time Grand Slam Finalist, he’s won the Wimbledon Mixed Doubles title twice, and earlier this year, teamed with Victoria Azarenka to reach the Final for a third time. He’s a Davis Cup Champion, and in 2016 – won his 2nd Grand Slam Doubles title with partner Bruno Soares right here in Arthur Ashe Stadium. From Dunblane, Scotland – Please welcome 2017 US Open Mixed Doubles Champion…Jamie Murray.
2018 US Open Road to the Title:
[vector_icon icon=”fas-fa check”] FF: def Alicija Rosolska -31- (POL) Nikola Mektic -18- (CRO) | 26 63 [11-9]
[vector_icon icon=”fas-fa check”] SF: def [WC] Christina McHale -363- (USA) -362- Christian Harrison (USA) | 64 26 [10-8]
[vector_icon icon=”fas-fa check”] QF: def Nadiia Kichenok -37- (UKR) Wesley Koolhof -42- (NED) | 76(5) 67(6) [10-7]
[vector_icon icon=”fas-fa check”] R2: def [8] Abigail Spears -32- (USA) Juan Sebastian Cabal -10- (COL) | 64 76(2)
[vector_icon icon=”fas-fa check”] R1: def Amanda Anisimova -1174- (USA) Michael Mmoh -856- (USA) | 64 76(2)
Alicja Rosolska -31- (POL) Nikola Mektić -18- (CRO)
This tandem has joined forces for the first time at this year’s US Open, and defeated Zheng Shuai and John Peers in a match tie-break to reach today’s championship match.
Alicja Rosolska
Earlier this year, she won her 8th WTA Doubles title in Nottingham, then reached the Semifinals of a Grand Slam for the first time, teaming with Abigail Spears to reach the Final 4 at Wimbledon. Ranked as high as #30 in the World, she’s a 19-time Finalist on tour, and is a member of her country’s Olympic and Fed Cup Teams. In 2014, with her doubles victory in the Playoffs, she helped lift Poland back into the Fed Cup World Group for the first time in 21-years. Competing in her first Grand Slam Final, from Poland, please welcome…Alicja Rosolska.
Nikola Mektic
He owns 4 ATP World Tour Doubles titles and comes into today’s championship match with a career-high ranking of World #18. A Semifinalist last year at Wimbledon; earlier this year, he reached his second Major Semifinal at Roland Garros. He’s played in 5 Doubles Finals this year alone; and in May, captured his first Masters-1000 Doubles title in Madrid. A member of his country’s Davis Cup Team; in April, he and Ivan Dodig helped lift Croatia back into the World Group Semifinals, where they’ll host Team USA next weekend. Also appearing in his first Grand Slam Final, from Croatia, please welcome…Nikola Mektic.
2018 US Open Road to the Final:
[vector_icon icon=”fas-fa check”] SF: def Shuai Zheng -61- (CHN) John Peers -04- (AUS) 26 64 [10-7]
[vector_icon icon=”fas-fa check”] QF: def Raluca Olaru -51- (ROU) Franko Skugor -39- (CRO) 76(5) 64
[vector_icon icon=”fas-fa check”] R2: def Coco Gauff (USA) Christopher Eubanks -227- (USA) 62 61
[vector_icon icon=”fas-fa check”] R1: def Makoto Ninomiya -27- (JPN) Ben McLachlan -24- (JPN) 46 62 [10-6]
