2016-06-11 19:00:00 CET
Ludwig and Walkenhorst grab incredible gold!
Home favorites do the business in breathtaking final!
Germany’s own Ludwig/Walkenhorst top the podium at #HamburgMajor; Photocredit: Joerg Mitter.
Hammmmbuurrrrggggg! They did it for YOU! Your 2016 smart Major Hamburg champions are Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst!
My goodness. It will take a good night’s sleep for us to get our breath back from a truly unbelievable match on Center Court which will go down in history as one of the most epic matches ever seen at the Rothenbaum.
We don’t know where to start…the beginning perhaps?!
The first set ends one way and the next…the crowd transfixed. Every point for the Germans they cheered. Points for Brazilians Agatha/Barbara met with a deathly hush. It was neck-and-neck throughout the opener…then – then ladies and gentleman – an amazing rally at 19-19 was put away by Ludwig and the place erupted. One point later the fans were cheering and on their feet again. 1-0 Kira and Laura.
Could the Germans keep up the momentum in the second set. No, they couldn’t but they came mighty close in another marathon set.
Yet another ding-dong battle ensued in a second set that Agatha/Barbara looked set to win before Ludwig and Walkenhorst came creeping back. That only annoyed the Brazilians and they responded by leveling the set score to the disbelief of the capacity crowd.
And so a decider.
It was nip and tuck all the way through but gradually, helped by the crowd, Ludwig and Walkenhorst turned the screw. An astonishing point from a Walkenhorst cut almost brought the house down – we’re positive that cheer was heard all over Hamburg – but importantly it made the score 13-10.
Two points were all that were needed…and a diagonal attack punched down by the hand of Ludwig hit the sand – and that was that – the Germans had done it!
Cue scenes of delirium and champagne on Center Court in front of over 8,000 screaming fans – the majority of course joined in with the national anthem at end of the medal ceremony.
Congratulations to Laura and Kira! Let the party in Hamburg commence!