In-form Heliovaara/Patten set Purcell/Thompson final at Wimbledon

Can Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten’s red-hot start to their partnership carry them to a Grand Slam title?

The unseeded Finnish-British pair defeated Neal Skupski and Michael Venus 6-4, 7-6(1) on Thursday afternoon to reach the championship match at Wimbledon. Heliovaara and Patten produced a stunning serving performance on No. 1 Court, where they won 95 per cent (36/38) of points behind first serves en route to an 84-minute win.

Since first teaming in April in Marrakech, Heliovaara and Patten have won 28 of the 32 matches they have contested together across all levels. That tally includes ATP Tour title runs in Marrakech and Lyon, and two ATP Challenger Tour titles. After reaching the final at Wimbledon, the pair is up 11 spots to eighth in the PIF ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings.

On their Grand Slam team debut earlier this year, Heliovaara and Patten reached the third round at Roland Garros before being forced to withdraw after the Finn suffered a shoulder injury. They have put that disappointment behind them superbly at the All England Club, where they have dropped just one set across five matches so far.

Awaiting Heliovaara and Patten in Saturday’s final will be 15th seeds Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson, who upset top seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos 6-4, 6-4.

Like Heliovaara and Patten, Purcell and Thompson have enjoyed a stellar 2024 on the doubles court. The Australian duo has won ATP Tour crowns in Dallas, Los Cabos and Houston, and is seventh in the PIF ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings as they chase a spot at the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals.

Purcell will bring Wimbledon championship-match experience to the court in Saturday’s title clash. The 26-year-old lifted the trophy at SW19 in 2022 alongside another Australian, Matthew Ebden.

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