'Dream come true': Hijikata's incredible ride ends in the Wimbledon final

Tennis Australia, Wimbledon

Rinky Hijikata and David Pel have gone down 2-6 6-7(3) to Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool in the 2025 Wimbledon final.

It ends an incredible fortnight for the pair, who had ‘barely spoken’ prior to the event before going on a historic run to the decider.

Taking to Centre Court for the first time in each of their lives, Hijikata and Pel started slowly in the final. The 34-year-old Dutchman, having the week of his tennis life, was broken in his opening service game: a trend that would continue throughout the first hour.

Two breaks of the Pel serve allowed Cash and Glasspool to race to a 6-2 opening set lead, but a position Hijikata and Pel had become familiar with this week.

The local British pair again broke the Pel serve early in the second and swiftly held a commanding 6-2 4-2 advantage.

Just when they needed a look-in, a loose service game gifted Hiji-Pel two break-point opportunities, the second of which they took after a poor backhand volley error.

Pel then held for 4-4, and it was game on. And the Centre Court crowd reflected it. Barring a few courtside seats in the baking sun, it was near capacity, with over 10,000 fans arriving early before their marquee ticket, the women’s singles final.

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Four service holds then took us to another tiebreak: Hijikata and Pel’s 10th for the tournament.

The Aussie, who evidently loves the big moment, came up with three incredible points to keep the pair in touch at 3-4, before the Brits reeled off the final four points to claim their first major title.

And in doing so at Wimbledon, they became the first all-British pair to win the men’s doubles title since 1936.

For Pel and Hijikata, there’s every chance they may never play doubles again, but it’s been one hell of a fortnight.

 “We didn’t even meet before the tournament. It was our first time speaking on the day we started,” Pel said on-court to some laughs from the British crowd.

“It’s been a crazy ride, Hijikata added.

“It’s been so much fun playing with David…and a dream come true to be out here playing on Centre Court,” he continued.

“Bit shattered but it was a lot of fun.”

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