LONDON, July 4: Australians Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde were denied a record sixth consecutive Wimbledon men's doubles title by Dutchmen Jacco Eltingh and Paul Haarhuis tonight.Top seeds Eltingh and Haarhuis won an epic four-hour final 2-6, 6-4, 7-6, 5-7, 10-8 to become the first pair in the Open era to win all four Grand Slam doubles crowns.
The Australians assumed early control with two breaks in the opening set, but Eltingh and Haarhuis fought back to the brink of victory in the fourth set.
The Dutch pair carved out the first of their three championship points on Woodbridge's serve with the number two seeds trailing 4-5, but Eltingh's volley fell just wide.
Results (Doubles)pMen's (final): 1-Jacco Eltingh/Paul Haarhuis (Netherlands) bt 2-Todd Woodbridge/Mark Woodforde (Australia) 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), 5-7, 10-8.
Mixed (SF): 5-Mahesh Bhupathi (Ind)/Mirjana Lucic (Cro) bt Justin Gimelstob/Venus Williams (US) 6-4, 7-5
Women's (SF): 1-Martina Hingis (Swi)/Jana Novotna(Czech) beat 7-Lisa Raymond (US)/Rennae Stubbs (Aus) 6-2, 6-3; 2-Lindsay Davenport (US)/Natasha Zvereva (Bel) bt 17-Mariaan De Swardt (SA)/Debbie Graham (US) 6-3, 6-0.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.