Post by : Meena Ariff

Australia’s Olivia Gadecki and John Peers have made tennis history by becoming the first pair in 37 years to successfully defend the Australian Open mixed doubles title. The wildcard duo overcame the French team of Kristina Mladenovic and Manuel Guinard in a gripping final, finishing 4-6, 6-3, 10-8.

This milestone achievement marks the first time since 1989 that a team has retained the mixed doubles crown, with Jana Novotna and Jim Pugh being the last to do so. Furthermore, Gadecki and Peers are the first all-Australian pairing in over six decades to defend the title, a feat last accomplished by Margaret Court and Ken Fletcher.

After clinching her second Grand Slam title alongside Peers, who notched his fourth, Gadecki expressed her astonishment and joy: “I can’t believe we’re in this position right now. To hold the trophy again is incredible. I always believed we could do it, but didn’t expect it to actually happen.”

The final unfolded as a thrilling contest with momentum swinging between both pairs. The French team made an early impact by breaking Peers’ serve in the first game and maintained that edge to take the first set 6-4, despite multiple service breaks from both sides.

Fueled by the passionate cheers of the home crowd chanting “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie,” Gadecki and Peers regained composure in the second set. They secured an early break to lead 3-1 and held their serves steadily. Peers sealed the set with a powerful ace, pushing the match to a decisive 10-point super tiebreak.

The tiebreak was a tense back-and-forth affair. Mladenovic’s early double fault, which accidentally hit her partner’s back on the second serve, set a chaotic tone as the serving team lost five consecutive points. The French pair briefly surged ahead 7-5, but the Australians fought back with resilience.

Peers delivered a crucial forehand winner to earn two championship points. The victory was sealed when Guinard’s return hit the net, handing the title to Gadecki and Peers in an exhilarating finish.

Mladenovic, a seasoned Grand Slam doubles champion with nine titles, congratulated the Australian pair, acknowledging the difficulty of defending a Grand Slam title. She also shared a personal note, recalling how she was on crutches months earlier and thanked Guinard for his belief and support during her recovery, highlighting the strong partnership they built on and off the court.

This remarkable triumph not only adds another chapter to Gadecki and Peers’ growing legacies but also places them among the most successful mixed doubles teams in recent Australian tennis history.

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