This year’s Wimbledon doubles champions Hsieh Su-Wei and Elise Mertens lifted the Indian Wells doubles title after their 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 win over Veronika Kudemertova and Elena Rybakina after 1 hour and 34 minutes.
Hsieh Su Wei and Mertens won their second title as a team following their Grand Slam triumph at Wimbledon.
Hsieh teamed up with Mertens for the first time during the clay-court season this summer. They fended off match points to beat Kudemertova and Elena Vesnina in the Wimbledon final.
Hsieh has won her 30th career doubles title third Indian Wells doubles title with three different partners following her previous triumphs with Peng Shuai in 2014 and Barbora Strycova in 2018. Mertens has lifted 14 doubles titles.
Kudemertova and Rybakina played their third doubles tournament as a team. Rybakina qualified for her first doubles final.
Hsieh and Mertens earned an early break. Kudemertova and Rybakina got the break back in the sixth game to draw level to 3-3. Hsieh and Mertens earned a second break at love in the 11th game to take a 6-5 lead after a double fault from Kudemertova. Rybakina and Kudemertova pulled back on serve from 0-30 down to draw level to 6-6. Kudemertova won the first point with a overhead winner. Hsieh and Mertens earned two mini-breaks to open up a 4-1 lead, as Kudemertova made two double faults. Hsieh earned two set points with an ace. Hsieh and Mertens converted their first chance after Kudemertova missed a overhead.
Both teams traded breaks twice at the start of the second set. Hsieh and Mertens earned the crucial break at 5-3. Mertens served out the win in the ninth game.
“We tried to play aggressive. Su-wei at the net, me from the back so she can cross. I think it all clicked a little bit better in the second set. So we are really happy with the win and qualified for the WTA Finals, so we are very happy for that too”, said Mertens.
