WIMBLEDON — The last time I spoke with Henry Patten, he ranked No. 42 in the world and aimed to make a mark at Wimbledon’s men’s doubles with his Finnish partner, Harri Heliovaara. Now, he’s a Grand Slam champion, a top-20 player, and has an extra £325,000 to his name.
Far from the wild celebrations one might expect, Patten’s victory at Wimbledon led to a low-key evening. He spent time with 50 or 60 of his closest family and friends at the All England Club before heading home to catch some sleep.
“I couldn’t sleep, but that wasn’t because I was out late,” Patten shared. “We stayed at the club until about 11 p.m.. Watched the replay of the tie-break, and then tried to get some rest. I fell asleep around 3 a.m. and was up at 8:30 a.m.”
While John McEnroe might have hoped for a more boisterous celebration, Patten has practical plans ahead. He fitted for a tuxedo for the Wimbledon gala ball, though he briefly panicked when he discovered that they did not have shoes larger than size 12.
As an Ipswich Town fan, Patten felt relieved to learn that the champions’ dinner would show the Euro 2024 final, avoiding a potential pub crawl in Wimbledon. A booked early flight to the US the next day complicated his plans. Where he will settle into a new apartment with his girlfriend, Ellie, a soon-to-be doctor in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
“We’ll see where the night takes us,” Patten said. “But we both have morning flights, so whether we get much sleep is yet to be seen.”
Patten, who now stands as the British No. 2 in doubles, has been busy traveling this year, having played in 20 cities across 11 countries and six continents. Despite the significant prize money, he’s looking forward to a bit of comfort on his travels.
“I’ll definitely take the trophy with me when I check in and see if they can give me some extra legroom,” said the 6ft 6in player. “I’m certainly not putting it in the hold!”
Patten’s journey to Wimbledon glory is a testament to his determination. Seven years ago, he worked at Wimbledon as a data inputter, unable to play on Centre Court. A former tennis hopeful who turned to summer internships in wealth management. He eventually pursued a career in tennis with renewed focus, inspired by his time at Durham University.
He and Heliovaara, despite being relatively new partners, have already won five titles together, including Wimbledon. Patten praised their partnership, highlighting their shared values and competitive spirit, which has contributed to their success.
Heliovaara’s family and Patten’s loved ones packed the stands for the final, witnessing a dramatic match that ended in a champions’ tie-break. The emotional culmination saw Heliovaara in tears and Patten in disbelief.
“It still hasn’t sunk in,” Patten admitted. “I don’t fully grasp what this means yet, but we’re just enjoying the moment.”
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