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London duo Guo and Mladenovic capture Wimbledon doubles crown

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LONDON, July 12 (Reuters) - Chinese player Guo Hanyu and France’s Kristina Mladenovic defeated second seeds Gabriela Dabrowski of Canada and Luisa Stefani of Brazil 6-3 7-5 on Sunday to win the Wimbledon women’s doubles title. The 10th seeds made a fast start on Centre Court, quickly reading Dabrowski’s early lobs and racing to a 5-0 lead before closing out the opening set despite a brief fightback from the Canadian-Brazilian pair. The second seeds raised their level in the second set and pressed hard for a break, but Guo and Mladenovic saved two break points to stay on serve and level at 5-5. Guo, playing in her first major final, produced sharp backhand returns at the net to earn a crucial break point in the 11th game, then converted it with a cross-court backhand struck at a tight angle. Serving for the championship, Mladenovic sealed victory with a forehand that Dabrowski and Stefani could only send into the net, securing the pair’s first major title together and Mladenovic’s maiden Wimbledon crown. The 34-year-old Frenchwoman, a six-time Grand Slam doubles champion between 2018 and 2022, returned this season from a serious injury that had left her on crutches and thanked Guo for partnering her despite her lack of ranking, while Guo said she felt lucky to have Mladenovic on her side.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.

Timeline of Events

2018 Mladenovic begins Grand Slam doubles run
2018-2022 Wins six Grand Slam doubles titles
Last year Long-term injury leaves Mladenovic sidelined
Earlier this year Guo and Mladenovic form partnership
Sunday Guo and Mladenovic reach Wimbledon final
Sunday Win Wimbledon women’s doubles title
Sunday Dabrowski and Stefani lose in straight sets
After match Pair praise each other’s trust

Why This Matters to You

This victory shows that setbacks don't define us. Mladenovic's comeback from a serious injury to win Wimbledon is inspiring. It's a reminder that perseverance and partnership can lead to success. If you're facing a challenge, remember this story.

The Bottom Line

Guo and Mladenovic's win is a testament to teamwork and resilience. It's a reminder that no matter where we're from or what we've been through, we can achieve great things together. Worth forwarding if you know someone who needs a little inspiration today.