
Wimbledon 2025: Joe Salisbury & Luisa Stefani finish mixed doubles runners-up
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Joe Salisbury and Luisa Stefani finished runners-up in the Wimbledon mixed doubles final against Netherlands’ Sem Verbeek and 10-time Grand Slam doubles champion Katerina Siniakova.
Salisbury and Stefani showed their fighting spirit to come back and force another tie-break in the second set but eventually lost 7-6(3), 7-6(3) to the unseeded duo.
Salisbury had been bidding to win his third mixed doubles Grand Slam title, but first at Wimbledon having previously made the final alongside fellow Brit Harriet Dart in 2021.
Despite falling short in the final, it's been a strong campaign for Salisbury and Stefani. The pair knocked out two seeded partnerships in Michael Venus and Erin Routliffe (sixth seeds) and second seeds Marcelo Arevalo and Shuai Zhang on their way to reaching the final without dropping a set.
Speaking on court after the final, Salisbury said, “Obviously it’s always tough to lose a final, especially one as close as that.
“Sam and Katrina played amazing so congratulations to them. They were too good for us in the tie-breaks today but I’ve got to say a big thank you to Louisa, she’s been amazing.
"Thank you for texting me two days before the sign in to ask to play with me - it’s been an absolute pleasure to play with you all week and hopefully we can again.
Meanwhile, Stefani - who is currently ranked world No.29 in the WTA doubles rankings and is a former Australian Open mixed doubles champion - added, “Thanks everyone for the great atmosphere first of all, it’s my first time on Centre Court so it’s been a huge honour, especially playing with Joe this whole week, it’s been a lot of fun.”
Looking to put the pressure on their opponents right from the off, Salisbury and Stefani elected for their opponents to serve first, and it almost paid off with an early break point but the Dutch, Czech duo were quickly able to snuff out the danger.
That would be their only chances of the first set as both teams managed to comfortably hold their way to a tie-break under the evening sun on Centre Court.
A run of five straight points in a high-quality tie-break proved too much for Salisbury and Stefani to come back from – the Brazilian eventually sending a backhand volley long to hand the opening set to their opponents.
There was early danger for the British, Brazilian duo in the second set as well – after missing out on another break point chance, their opponents fired straight back, breaking Stefani to eventually move 3-1 in front.
It all seemed to be going the way of the Dutch, Czech duo – but a series of uncharacteristic mistakes on the Siniakova serve at 4-3, gave the home favourite and his partner the chance to level and get back into the set.
However, 10-time Grand Slam women’s doubles champion Siniakova would have the last say – coming up with a forehand winner to get the mini break against the Stefani serve, which proved the difference in another tight tie-break.
With the chance to serve out for both of their first Grand Slam mixed doubles titles, Verbeek delivered an unreturnable first serve to clinch the Wimbledon trophy.