Brit wins Wimbledon! Little-known 33-year-old Liverpudlian Neal Skupski flies the flag at SW19 with men’s doubles triumph
- Neal Skupski has won the Wimbledon men’s doubles title with his Dutch partner
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Britain’s Neal Skupski has won the Wimbledon men’s doubles title with his Dutch partner Wesley Koolhof, becoming the first person to win the mixed and men’s doubles title at the SW19 in 97 years.
The little-known 33-year-old Liverpudlian stood grinning on the court after beating Spain’s Marcel Granollers and Argentina’s Horacio Zeballos 6-4, 6-4, this afternoon.
The tennis player previously won the mixed doubles at the Grand Slam tournament in 2021 and 2022.
It mean’s that today’s triumph makes Skupski the first British player to win a hat-trick of Wimbledon titles since Dorthy Round in 1937 won the women’s singles after wining the mixed doubles in the previous two years.
The victory has matched Skupski with tennis great Fred Perry, as no British man has won back-to-back title’s since Perry won his third men’s singles in a row in 1936, and also means he is the first person to have won the men’s and mixed doubles since Leslie Goodfree in 1926.
Neal Skupski has won the Wimbledon men’s doubles title with his Dutch partner Wesley Koolhof, becoming the first person to win the mixed and men’s doubles title at the SW19 in 97 years
The 33-year-old Liverpudlian stood grinning on the court after beating Spain’s Marcel Granollers and Argentina’s Horacio Zeballos 6-4, 6-4, this afternoon
Skupski (pictured with Koolhof today) previously won the mixed doubles at the Grand Slam tournament in 2021 and 2022
Following his conquest, a grinning Skupski told the crowd: ‘Growing up watching this amazing championship on TV, starting off a young boy at Palmerston Tennis Club in Liverpool, going out there as a small boy with my dad and growing up with my brother, who has been very influential on my career.
‘This feeling at the moment does not get better. Me and Wesley came together 18 months ago and this year, it was one of our goals to win a grand slam and now we have done it, it feels very special.’
After winning the final point – that did not disappoint the roaring crowd – the pair fell to floor the floor in celebration.
The last Brit to have won the men’s double title was Jonathan Marray who secured the title with his Danish Partner Frederick Nielsen 11 years ago.
Skupski grew up in Childwall in Merseyside and began playing tennis at Allerton’s Palmerston Tennis Club, which his childhood home backed onto.
He took inspiration from his older brother Ken Skupski who also had a successful career, often playing alongside his sibling in tournaments before retiring in 2022. Ken now coaches his Wimbledon famous brother.
The tennis supreme has caught the eye of his fellows over the years, with Andy Murray admitting just last month that Skupski is one of his biggest rivals – but not in the sport they both made their name on.
Instead Murray insisted Skupski is his nemesis in their Fantasy Premier League. The Scottish player said: ‘His knowledge isn’t that high level, but he spends hours on the apps and website.’
Skupski has been engaged to his long-term girlfriend Cambri Prevost for almost seven years
Not much is known about Ms Prevost but on her Instagram she describes herself as a registered nurse
Skupski grew up in Childwall in Merseyside and began playing tennis at Allerton’s Palmerston Tennis Club, which his childhood home backed onto
Following the win – that did not disappoint the roaring crowd – the pair fell to floor the floor in celebration
Ahead of today’s match, the 33-year-old player said winning the match would be the ‘pinnacle’ of his career to date.
This afternoon Skupski did not have his brother and coach Ken in his box as he went on a family holiday to Ibiza on Friday, but he did provide tactical analysis via video.
Pre-armed with these tactics, the first set they made their move, breaking Granollers’ serve when the Spaniard kindly sent down a double fault on break point.
Skupski consolidated the break with an impressive service game and, after missing a set point on Zeballos’ serve in the next game, it was left to Koolhof to serve it out nicely and claim the set 6-4.
They continued to dominate and crucially took Zeballos’ serve to lead 3-2 after a particularly impressive return game.
Ahead of today’s match, the 33-year-old player said this would the ‘pinnacle’ of his career to date
The victorious couple embraced their opponent’s Spain’s Marcel Granollers and Argentina’s Horacio Zeballos after winning today
Today’s win is his first grand slam title in the men’s double having lost the US Open final last year
The couple lead a jet-setting lifestyle, being pictured together all over the world
Skupski immediately held to go 4-2 up before they missed two break points to move within a game of the title as Granollers came good.
It is his first grand slam title in the men’s double having lost the US Open final last year.
Throughout his career which began in 2013, he was won 14 ATP Tour doubles titles, including at the Madrid Open, Canadian Open and Paris Masters.
Skupski has been engaged to his long-term girlfriend Cambri Prevost for almost seven years, according to First Sportz.
Not much is known about Ms Prevost but on her Instagram she describes herself as a registered nurse.
The couple lead a jet-setting lifestyle, being pictured together all over the world, with Ms Prevost often being spotted supporting her husband during his major tournaments.
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