London, Great Britain, 16 July 2023 | Leigh Rogers

Storm Hunter and Heath Davidson have fallen just short in their respective quests to win a maiden Wimbledon title.

Hunter and Belgian Elise Mertens finished runners-up in the ladies’ doubles competition, losing 7-5 6-4 to veterans Hsieh Su-wei and Barbora Strycova in a high-quality Centre Court showdown.

“It was a tough match,” Hunter conceded. “Congrats to Su-wei and Barbora. They played really, really well.”

Hunter, who was competing in her career-first ladies’ doubles Grand Slam final, had been aiming to snap a 19-year title drought for Australians in the Wimbledon ladies’ doubles competition.

Despite the loss, she was proud of a career-best run.

“For me, it’s a dream come true to play here on Centre Court in the doubles final,” she said.

It proved an emotional victory for 37-year-olds Hsieh and Strycova.

Strycova, a former world No.1 doubles player, was contesting her first Grand Slam tournament since Australian Open 2021. The mother of one returned to the tour in May, determined to compete at Wimbledon one last time.

“This is the perfect way to finish,” she said after winning her second career Grand Slam title.

Strycova won her first at Wimbledon in 2019, also alongside Hsieh.

Hsieh, a former world No.1 coached by Australian legend Paul McNamee, also returned in May from an extended injury time-off.

This is Hsieh’s sixth career Grand Slam doubles title and the second of her stunning comeback, after claiming the Roland Garros crown last month with China’s Wang Xinyu.

World No.1 Niels Vink proved too strong for Davidson in the quad wheelchair singles final.

The 20-year-old from the Netherlands tallied 28 winners, to Davidson’s 12, in a 6-1 6-2 victory.

“Honestly, I thought I played pretty well,” a gracious Davdison said after his first Grand Slam singles final appearance.

“I could have thrown the kitchen sink at this kid today and he would have hit it past me for a winner.”

Aussies in action – Wimbledon

RESULTS
Ladies’ doubles, final
Hsieh Su-wei (TPE)/Barbora Strycova (CZE) d [3] Storm Hunter (AUS)/Elise Mertens (BEL) 7-5 6-4

Quad wheelchair singles, final
[1] Niels Vink (NED) d Heath Davidson (AUS) 6-1 6-2

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