Alexander Peya had come close to lifting a Grand Slam title before, reaching the Wimbledon Mixed Doubles final in 2015 and the 2013 US Open Men’s Doubles championship match, but he had always fallen short. Not on Sunday.

The Austrian Peya partnered American Nicole Melichar to lift the trophy at The Championships, defeating Victoria Azarenka and Jamie Murray 7-6(1), 6-3. The No. 11 seeds saved all four break points they faced to triumph after one hour, 28 minutes.

"Wimbledon was always a cornerstone for me, playing in the garden with my brother. So to sit here now and be Wimbledon champion, it definitely feels amazing," Peya said. 

Peya has captured 17 ATP World Tour titles, including two this season alongside Nikola Mektic. The 38-year-old has also reached at least the quarter-finals in men’s doubles at the All England Club on four previous occasions, and recently made the semi-finals at Roland Garros with Mektic.

Peya/Mektic, who fell in the Round of 16 at SW19 this year, are currently the No. 4 team in the ATP Doubles Race To London in their first campaign as a team. Melichar fell just short of triumphing in women’s doubles, losing in a three-set championship match with Kveta Peschke on Saturday. This is her first Grand Slam victory.

"We're having fun on the court," Peya said. "We're enjoying it. I think that reflects in our game."