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Martina Hingis had never partnered Jamie Murray before their run to the Wimbledon Mixed Doubles championship.

Still when Hall of Famer Hingis texted Murray an invitation to play, she was confident he would say yes.

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That's because Hingis doesn't accept no for an answer.

"I'm not used to 'no'," Hingis said after the pair dethroned defending champions Heather Watson and Henri Kontinen, 6-4, 6-4 in the final. "No, I don't take 'no' as an answer pretty much. But I would understand especially here, it's always tough.

"I understand in the past guys would have said no because they really want to focus on doubles only because it's three-out-of-five. This is the only tournament that still does it."

The former world No. 1 earned her 23rd Grand Slam title overall, while Murray won his second Wimbledon Mixed Doubles a decade after partnering Jelena Jankovic to the 2007 title.

Hingis said she used the direct approach in a pre-tournament text to Murray.

"It was just like, Hi, Jamie, want to play with me," Hingis recalled of her text to Murray. "Just got to keep it simple. I think that's what matters. When you're on the court, too, we know where we stand, what we do, what we can expect from one another as doubles players.

"I was hoping that Wimbledon really is for every British player or for any tennis player, you want to win Wimbledon. I mean, whether it's the singles, doubles or mixed. When you come back here, it's just a special thing, a special occasion. I was hoping for a yes definitely."

The victory came shortly after Hingis' former Swiss mixed doubles partner, Roger Federer, won his record eighth Wimbledon singles crown.

Hingis, who has often joked she taught the young Federer how to win championships when they partnered to win Hopman Cup for Switzerland, says she's amazed by the 35-year-old Federer.

"Obviously, he's done amazing things since he won, what, at 21, 22, the first time," Hingis said. "Winning the title for the eighth time, I mean, both him and Nadal 10-time French Open, it's amazing what he accomplished in singles. He's only a year younger than me. I definitely admire that."

Photo credit: Ashley Western/CameraSport


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