Wimbledon 2011: Dutch claim wheelchair final success

World number one singles player Esther Vergeer and her partner Sharon Walraven came from 5-2 down in the deciding set to successfully defend their Wimbledon wheelchair doubles title.

The Dutch pair beat their compatriots Jiske Griffioen and Aniek van Koot 6-4 3-6 7-5 in a thrilling match.

There was also Dutch delight in the men's doubles decider.

Ronald Vink and Maikel Scheffers defeated French pair Stephane Houdet and Michael Jeremiasz 7-5 6-2.

It was an amazing comeback by Vergeer and Walraven, who are unbeaten in Grand Slam doubles competition since losing last year's French Open final at Roland Garros.

Both van Koot and Griffioen served for the match in the decider but Vergeer, who has won her last 418 singles matches, and is the sport's stellar figure, raised her game to secure her third successive Wimbledon title and continue her unbeaten record at SW19.

"Although we were close to losing I always felt we had a chance, even at 5-2 down," Vergeer told BBC Sport afterwards.

"But being in a Wimbledon final gives you that extra motivation to just fight for it and try your hardest. It is a very special tournament."

Walraven, who is the world number one doubles player, added: "At some points it was good we had each other. Esther said the right things to me when I wasn't hitting the ball very well and I did the same to her. In doubles it's good to keep motivating each other."

Houdet and Jeremiasz took an early 4-2 lead in the opening set of their final but Scheffers and Vink were always in the set and won the next three games to go 5-4 up

Houdet sent down two aces at 100mph and 93mph to level it 5-5 before Scheffers held to edge 6-5 ahead.

It left Jeremiasz serving to stay in the set but a double fault and a Vink winner handed the set to the Dutch pair.

Vink and Scheffers edged 3-2 ahead in the second set and from then on they created more opportunities and sealed victory with a forehand winner from Scheffers.

"It means a lot because it was the only Grand Slam we had never won together and it also gives us revenge for losing to the French pair in France last week. To beat them at Wimbledon is special," said Vink afterwards.

"We've done well this week," added Scheffers. "Mentally this is a good win and sets us up for the rest of the year for the British Open in Nottingham later this month and the US Open in New York."

There was no joy for British pair Lucy Shuker and Jordanne Whiley who were beaten in the women's third and fourth place play-off.

They lost 6-3 7-6 (10-8) to Belgium's Annick Sevenans and Marjolein Buis of the Netherlands.

Last year's winners Robin Ammerlaan of the Netherlands and Sweden's Stefan Olsson, who lost to Vink and Scheffers in Saturday's semi-finals, took third in the men's event with a 6-3 6-3 victory over Dutch teenager Tom Egberink and Shingo Kunieda of Japan.