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A decade in waiting Johnson, Palmer first U.S. pair to win since 1990
Updated: Sunday July 08, 2001 2:24 PM
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) -- The American team of Don Johnson and Jared Palmer claimed the Wimbledon men's doubles title on Sunday, defeating the Czech pair of Jiri Novak and David Rikl 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (6). They are the first all-American team to win Wimbledon since Rick Leach and Jim Pugh won in 1990. The victory came after they were forced to save four match points on Palmer's serve in the quarterfinals. That came in the fourth set when they battled Juan Balcells of Spain and Sjeng Schalken of the Netherlands, but they survived to win 3-6, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5), 7-6 (6), 6-4. Teaming up for the first time in early March, the two have won five titles in the eight tournaments they have played. They won on their debut in Scottsdale on hard court, and followed up with back-to-back clay-court victories in Barcelona and Mallorca. They also won Nottingham on grass immediately before Wimbledon. They are undefeated in the finals they have contested. Palmer has already won a Grand Slam men's doubles title, having taken the '95 Australian Open with American partner Richey Reneberg. Palmer also reached the Wimbledon final two years ago with Paul Haarhuis of the Netherlands, losing on that occasion to the Indian pair of Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes. Novak and Rikl were only the fourth all-Czech pair to contest a Grand Slam final in the Open Era, and the first at Wimbledon.
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