Doubles delight for record-breaker Woodbridge

Published Jul 4, 2004

Share

London - Australia's Todd Woodbridge wrote his name into the Wimbledon record books by winning his ninth men's doubles title here Sunday and he said there could be more to come.

Woodbridge and Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden, the top seeds and defending champions, defeated Julian Knowle of Austria and Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia and Montenegro 6-1 6-4 4-6 6-4.

It was 33-year-old Woodbridge's ninth men's doubles title at Wimbledon breaking the 100-year-old record of the Doherty brothers, Laurie and Reggie.

Woodbridge won his first six titles at Wimbledon with long-term playing partner Mark Woodforde in 1993 and the last two with Bjorkman.

During that time, he lost only one final playing with Woodforde in 1998.

That gives Woodbridge 10 men's doubles final appearances equalling the number of finals that Laurie Doherty reached in the early years of the 20th century, but is one short of Reggie's total of 11.

Woodbridge punched the air with joy after match point and held up both hands to indicate the number nine.

"Once we got through the semis I was confident about today," said Woodbridge.

"I am just really pleased. I felt I played one the best matches I have played today. For me Wimbledon is the greatest tennis event that we play.

"It was my dream just to play here, so to say that I have won more than anyone in the history of tennis I am so proud of what I have done."

Bjorkman paid tribute to his partner calling him the greatest doubles player ever in tennis.

"If you break all the records that you can break, that proves that you are the greatest," said the Swede.

"John McEnroe was a fantastic doubles player, but Todd broke his records as well. He doesn't have the hardest shots, but he is a shot-maker and that's what counts in doubles."

Asked about his intentions for the future, Woodbridge said he felt his game was good enough to keep going.

"I should keep playing because you are retired a long time," he said.

Related Topics: