Australian Storm Hunter and Belgian partner Elise Mertens have advanced to the Wimbledon 2023 ladies’ doubles final.
London, Great Britain, 14 July 2023 | Leigh Rogers
Storm Hunter has become the first Australian to advance to a ladies’ doubles final at Wimbledon in 10 years.
The 28-year-old Hunter and Belgian partner Elise Mertens have barely been tested at this year’s championships, conceding only seven games during a dominant march into the semifinals.
They continued that trend against American Caroline Dolehide and China’s Zhang Shuai in today’s semifinals, powering to a 6-1 6-1 victory.
Hunter and Mertens needed only 55 minutes to secure a comprehensive victory against the No.16 seeds.
They did not face a break point and conceded a total of 10 points on serve. This keeps their 100 per cent record in service games so far this tournament in tact.
This ruthless performance propels Hunter into her second career Grand Slam final. She reached her first at last year’s US Open, where she won the mixed doubles title alongside fellow Aussie John Peers.
Hunter becomes the 13th Australian to reach a Wimbledon ladies’ doubles final in the Open era.
| Wimbledon ladies’ doubles Australian finalists – Open era |
|
| Player | Year |
| Margaret Court | 1969, 1971 |
| Judy Dalton | 1969, 1972 |
| Evonne Goolagong Cawley | 1971, 1974 |
| Helen Gourlay Cawley | 1974, 1977 |
| Karen Krantzcke | 1974 |
| Kerry Reid | 1978 |
| Wendy Turnbull | 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1986 |
| Liz Smylie | 1985, 1987, 1990 |
| Rennae Stubbs | 2001, 2004, 2009 |
| Sam Stosur | 2008, 2009, 2011 |
| Ash Barty | 2013 |
| Casey Dellacqua | 2013 |
| Storm Hunter | 2023 |
It has been 19 years since an Australian won a Wimbledon ladies’ doubles title, with Rennae Stubbs the most recent player to achieve that feat.
Stubbs is one of eight Australians to win the title in the Open era – an exclusive group that Hunter now has the chance to join.
Hunter and Mertens’ final opponent will be decided later today.
They’ll play either Hsieh Su-wei from Chinese Taipei and Czech Barbora Strycova, two former world No.1s and the Wimbledon 2019 champions, or Czech Marie Bouzkova and Spaniard Sara Sorribes Tormo for the title.
Aussies in action – Wimbledon
RESULTS
Ladies’ doubles, semifinals
[3] Storm Hunter (AUS)/Elise Mertens (BEL) d [16] Caroline Dolehide (USA)/Zhang Shuai (CHN) 6-1 6-1
COMING UP
Ladies’ doubles, final
[3] Storm Hunter (AUS)/Elise Mertens (BEL) v TBC
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