British wildcards Jay Clarke and Marcus Willis upset defending Champions Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut 3-6 6-1 7-6 (7-3) 5-7 6-3 on Court 3 at the Wimbledon’s All England Club. Willis grabbed the headlines last year when he started from the pre-qualifying round to reach the second round of the Main Draw at Wimbledon before losing to Roger Federer on Centre Court.
Herbert and Mahut wasted six set points before losing the third set. Clarke and Willis did not convert three consecutive match points at 5-4 in the fourth set but Herbert and Mahut reeled off 13 of the next 15 points to force the match to the fifth set. Clarke and Willis went up a 3-0 lead in the fifth set where Willis fired an ace on the match point to close it out after 3 hours and 13 minutes.
Clarke and Willis fired 27 winners, including 19 aces. Herbert and Mahut converted just 2 of their 16 break points.
Unseeded players Marcin Matkovski and Max Mirniy beat US twin legends Bob and Mike Bryan 6-3 7-5 6-4. Bob and Mike did not convert three consecutive set points in the 10th game of the second set.
“I don’t really know how to explain that one. We played great. The crowd got behind us. I am a bit speechless, to be honest. The expectaction was to lose probably, but I knew we could get close. If we rack up the games on our serve, anything can happen. We took a few risks and it paid off. It means a lot. Not only to win matches but to beat the guys who won last year. We watch a lot of tennis and we have obviously watched these guys win so many tournaments. To actually beat them is unbelievable”, said Willis.
This year’s Australian Open champions Henri Kontinen and John Peers beat British wildcards Scott Clayton and Jonny O’Mara in straight sets 6-3 6-4 6-4 setting up a next round match against Hugo Nys and Antonio Sancic.
Lukas Kubot and Marcelo Melo battled past Phillipp Petchner and Alexander Peya 6-2 5-7 6-3 3-6 11-9 after three hours and 44 minutes.
