Wimbledon 2023: China denied mixed doubles glory for Xu Yifan, but Ukraine’s Lyudmyla Kichenok takes title and applause for emotional winner’s speech
- Xu Yifan and Joran Vliegen go close to capturing mixed doubles crown despite having never met before the championships
- Kichenok given ovation as she says she hopes to ‘encourage the people in Ukraine’ who are ‘fighting for their freedom’ after triumph alongside Mate Pavic
Xu Yifan of China described her 2023 Wimbledon as magical after she and her partner Joran Vliegen almost conjured an unlikely finish to the mixed doubles – having been complete strangers only a fortnight ago.
The unseeded pair shared a closely fought final at the All England Club with Lyudmyla Kichenok of Ukraine and Croatia’s Mate Pavic, who eventually clinched a 6-4, 6-7 (9/11), 6-3 triumph that an emotional Kichenok dedicated to her war-torn country.
“I have a message,” Kichenok said in her speech during the trophy presentation. “I try to encourage the people in Ukraine with my performance. I hope it’s going to help them a little bit because they are fighting for their freedom.”
The 30-year-old – the first Ukrainian to triumph at Wimbledon and only the third to win any grand-slam tournament – drew a standing ovation, yet also winning hearts on Centre Court were Xu and Vliegen.
It was not only their first foray to the business end of this tournament but a genuine step into the unknown, with Vliegen revealing afterwards that he and Xu, also known as Julie, had never met before being introduced at London’s SW19.