Doubles Take: Championship weekend on tap

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Doubles Take: Championship weekend on tap

Melichar goes for two titles, Sock and Bryan look to seal the dea

ByVan Sias

Published Jul 14, 2018

Championship weekend at Wimbledon is here, and Doubles Take is along for the ride with a preview of all three finals.

THE WOMEN

Nicole Melichar/Kveta Peschke (12) vs. Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova (3)

Talk about a contrast: Krejcikova and Siniakova are going for their second major in as many tournaments, while Peschke—who turned pro before her fellow Czechs were even born—is playing in only the third Grand Slam women’s doubles final of her storied career. The last one she did contest was a title-winning run in 2011 at Wimbledon.

THE MEN

Mike Bryan/Jack Sock (7) vs. Raven Klaasen/Michael Venus (13)

With recent Grand Slam winners falling by the wayside early on, the draw opened up for a number of teams to sneak through. Sock and Bryan, a scratch pairing, had their survival skills tested the prior two rounds but came through for their first final together.

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Klaasen and Venus, in their first year playing together, are through to their second grass-court championship match of the season and third overall. Venus has been making a habit of playing for titles at the majors: This is his third between men’s and mixed since last year’s French Open. In a topsy-turvy men’s tournament, Sock and Bryan would have to be considered the favorites to win it all in the end.

MIXED DOUBLES

Victoria Azarenka/Jamie Murray vs. Nicole Melichar/Alexander Peya (11)

While the doubles finals will be decided on Saturday, the mixed finale is slated for Sunday. It’s been quite the Wimbledon for Melichar: two main-draw events entered, two finals reached. The American and her Austrian partner—playing in his third career major final between men’s doubles and mixed—have a difficult task ahead. Murray is going for his third mixed title, while Azarenka has shaken off any rust in this discipline and is showing off the skill set that’s led her to Grand Slams and an Olympic gold medal.

“Muzzarenka” might just have too many weapons and too much experience for Melichar and Peya to overcome.

Follow Van on Twitter: @Van_Sias