Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic and Dutch partner Sem Verbeek captured their first Wimbledon mixed doubles title together on Thursday, overcoming Britain’s Joe Salisbury and Brazil’s Luisa Stefani in a tightly contested final. The unseeded duo prevailed 7-6(3), 7-6(3) on Centre Court, with both sets decided in tiebreaks amid intense pressure.
The match saw dramatic momentum shifts as Salisbury/Stefani—crowd favorites—fought to force breaks of serve. Stefani appeared hampered by a leg issue in the second set, while Siniakova’s championship-winning overhead smash capped a performance showcasing the new pairing’s remarkable chemistry. “We had so much fun out there,” beamed Siniakova after claiming her first mixed doubles Slam.
For Siniakova (29), the victory adds to her remarkable doubles legacy—now boasting 11 Grand Slam titles including this year’s Australian Open women’s doubles. Verbeek (31), previously best known for NCAA success at USC, celebrated his breakthrough Slam moment: “Competing next to such a legend…this is a Thursday I’ll remember forever.” The win marks just Verbeek’s second career ATP/WTA title.
Salisbury, a three-time Slam doubles champion, rued missed opportunities: “Small margins didn’t go our way.” The British-Brazilian pair had saved match points in their semifinal but couldn’t replicate the magic. As the new champions celebrated, Stefani received medical attention—a bittersweet ending to her own inspiring run after multiple knee surgeries. The victory completes Siniakova’s career Grand Slam in mixed doubles, having reached finals at all four majors since 2018.