Jamie, Bethanie rule

I’ve always had fun on the court. I’m really happy to win again

JAMIE Murray and Bethanie Mattek-Sands rule the mixed doubles event of the US Open. AFP

NEW YORK (AFP) — Britain’s Jamie Murray and Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the United States captured their second consecutive US Open mixed doubles title, defeating top seeds Chan Hao-Ching and Michael Venus 6-2, 6-3.

They became the first mixed doubles duo to win back-to-back US Open titles since South African Kevin Curran and American Anne Smith in 1981 and 1982.

Murray, who also won the 2017 US Open mixed doubles crown with Martina Hingis, became the first man to capture three US Open mixed doubles titles in a row since Australia’s Neale Fraser from 1958-1960.

“We played amazing the whole two weeks, especially the semifinals and finals,” Murray said. “I’ve always had fun on the court. I’m really happy to win again.”

Mattek-Sands ended matters after 59 minutes with a backhand service return winner.

“They were all over us from the start,” Venus said. “Too good.”

Murray, a 33-year-old Scotsman, and Mattek-Sands combined to hit 23 winners with only 11 unforced errors in collecting the $160,000 top prize.

“Jamie, you were on fire this whole two weeks,” Mattek-Sands said. “We have a lot of fun. He keeps me grounded. I’m the energetic one.”

Add Murray: “She said I’m the yin to her yang.”

Murray’s other Grand Slam mixed doubles crowns came at Wimbledon in 2007 and 2017.

Mattek-Sands also has Grand Slam mixed doubles titles at the 2012 Australian Open with Romanian Horia Tecau and the 2015 French Open with compatriot Mike Bryan.

New Zealander Venus and Taiwan’s Chan, who lost to Murray and Hingis in the 2017 US Open mixed final, had not dropped a set until the final.

“Very happy to play again with Michael,” Chan said.