TENNIS: Ostapenko, Arevalo fight back to win Wimbledon mixed doubles title

Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko and El Salvador's Marcelo Arevalo captured the Wimbledon mixed doubles title after rallying from a set down to defeat Australia's Storm Hunter and Marc Polmans 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 on Thursday.

Hunter and Polmans made the stronger start, earning an early break to claim the opening set while maintaining the pressure in the second against the second-seeded pair.

Ostapenko and Arevalo gradually found their rhythm, however, raising their level in the closing stages of the match. They fought back to take the second set before dominating the decider to secure their first Wimbledon mixed doubles championship together.

"I was frustrated after losing my serve in the first set, but I calmed myself down and told myself to keep fighting until the last point. Marcelo was very positive and that helped us a lot," Ostapenko said.

The victory also marked a historic milestone for Arevalo, who became the first Salvadoran to win a Wimbledon title. A two-time French Open men's doubles champion, he added another major achievement to his career. Ostapenko, meanwhile, continued to build her Grand Slam success, having won the 2017 French Open singles title and the 2024 US Open women's doubles championship.

"Winning this title means a lot. I want to continue to inspire kids in my country that if you put in the effort and believe in your dreams, you can achieve great things in life," Arevalo said. -Reporting by Karan Prashant Saxena in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond/Reuters