Former LSU tennis star Neal Skupski wins first Wimbledon doubles title with Wesley Koolhof

Former LSU tennis star Neal Skupski wore a big smile as he walked off the court on Saturday. Skupski claimed the doubles title at Wimbledon, along with his partner Wesley Koolhoff.

When the pair achieved the deuce point after a shot from Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos sailed out of bounds, Skupski fell to the ground in celebration. He later hugged Koolhoff before putting his hands on his head in disbelief and walking off the court sporting a wide grin. You can view the moment below.

Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski are Grand Slam Gentlemen's Doubles champions for the first time 👏

The No.1 seeds have beaten Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos 6-4, 6-4#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/dojkmMD8yY

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 15, 2023

“I don’t know what to say. This feeling at the moment doesn’t get any better,” Skupski said following the match according to SEC Sports. “Me and Wesley came together and this year it was one of our goals to win a Grand Slam. Now that we’ve done it, it feels very special.”

Skupski and Koolhoff entered Wimbledon as the No. 1 seed and claimed three straight victories to reach the final Saturday. They faced a break point in the second set, but overcame it to take a 3-2 advantage they never let go of.

The Wimbledon title was the first together for the pair, but it is not the first in the career of Skupski. He also claimed back-to-back mixed doubles titles in 2021 and 2022 alongside Desirae Krawczyk. With Saturday’s win, he became the first Englishman to claim both a mixed and men’s title at Wimbledon since Leslie Godfree in 1926.

Additionally, Skupski became only the second former LSU player to claim a men’s doubles grand slam title, joining Michael Venus, who won the French Open in 2017.

More on the career of Neal Skupski

Skupski starred at LSU from 2008-12, twice earning All-American Doubles honors in both the 2009 and 2011 seasons. He played under head coach Jeff Brown as well and then-assistant coach Danny Bryan, who later became head coach in 2022.

Since becoming pro, Skupski has won 15 career ATP Tour doubles titles. That includes 2022 wins at the Madrid Open, Canadian Open and Paris Master with Koolhoff. Those victories enabled them to earn the No. 1 rankings heading into Wimbledon.

Skupski also has an older brother, Ken, whom he competed in doubles with up until 2021. The pair won the 2021 Mexican Open together. A native of Liverpool, England, Skupski has been the representative for Great Britain in the Davis Cup since 2019 and compete in the most recent 2020 Olympics.