Leander Paes warmed up for Wimbledon by winning the Aegon Ilkley Challenger trophy with Canadian partner Adil Shamasdin, following a come-from-behind win over Brydan Klien and Joe Salisbury last Saturday (24).
The top seeds rallied to beat the local wild card pair 2-6 6-2 10-8 in the summit clash of the grass court event.
It is third title of the 2017 season for Paes on the ATP Challenger Tour and his second with Shamasdin.
The 45-year-old won the Tallahassee Challenger with American partner Scott Lipksy in April. His first title of the campaign had come in Leon, Mexico, with Shamasdin in March.
The veteran tennis icon has won eight doubles and ten mixed doubles Grand Slam titles, and is the oldest man to have won a major crown. He also holds a career Grand Slam in men’s doubles and mixed doubles.
Paes has a fine record at Wimbledon, achieving the rare men’s doubles/mixed doubles double at the 1999 tournament. His mixed doubles SW19 title in 2010 made him the second man after Rod Laver to win Wimbledon titles in three decades.
Nat Sciver-Brunt
