<figure id="attachment_3107987" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3107987" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-3107987" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1aa0dc54-ap25194533907284.webp" alt="" width="1600" height="1067" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3107987" class="wp-caption-text">The win marked the first major title for Russia&#8217;s Veronika Kudermetova (left) and a second Wimbledon crown for Belgian Elise Mertens. (AP pic)</figcaption></figure>
LONDON: Eighth seeds Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens fought back from a set down to win their first Grand Slam as a pair, beating Hsieh Su-Wei and Jelena Ostapenko 3-6 6-2 6-4 in the Wimbledon women&#8217;s doubles final on Sunday.
It was the first major title for Russia&#8217;s Kudermetova, who was on the losing side in the 2021 final against Mertens and Hsieh. The second Wimbledon crown for Belgian Mertens took her to five Grand Slam doubles titles.
&#8220;It&#8217;s been incredible,&#8221; a tearful Mertens said as she summed up a memorable Wimbledon campaign, having also reached the fourth round in the singles.
In the first set, Kudermetova held to go 3-1 up but the fourth seeds then won five straight games. The 28-year-old Russian led the charge in the second set, holding twice as the pair got three breaks in a row to force a third set.
Hsieh, who has won seven majors in women&#8217;s doubles including four Wimbledon titles, won a prolonged exchange with Kudermetova from the baseline to get the first break of the third set, before Ostapenko held without losing a point to take 4-2 lead.
But erroneous returns from Hsieh hit the net as the eighth seeds broke back, and Kudermetova held to go 5-4 up before Ostapenko went long to lose a 26-shot rally and bring up match point.
Kudermetova&#8217;s backhand from close range cut across the court to secure the match, finally fulfilling her dream of lifting the trophy at the All England Club.
&#8220;A few years ago I was playing in the final here against Elise&#8230; I lost that final and it was so painful. Today I said to myself, I really want this,&#8221; Kudermetova said.

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