The most exciting chapter yet has unfolded in Jason Kubler and Rinky Hijikata’s incredible Australian Open 2023 story.
The Aussie wildcards scored a stunning 6-3 6-1 victory against No.1 seeds Wesley Koolhof of the Netherlands and Brit Neal Skupski in men’s doubles quarterfinal action on Wednesday at Melbourne Park.
DRAW: Australian Open 2023 men's doubles
World No.3s Koolhof and Skupski were the world’s best team in 2022, winning seven titles from 10 final appearances.
But Kubler and Hijikata dominated their showdown today, not facing a break point and losing only nine points on serve in the 66-minute demolition.
“We started off a little bit better than our last two matches, so that was good for us,” a delighted Hijikata told the excited Kia Arena crowd.
“Kubes brought it from the first point and I mean, he played some unbelievable ball today. Thanks everybody for coming out. You guys really brought it too and it’s so much fun to play here.”
It continues a magical run for the 29-year-old Kubler and 21-year-old Hijikata, who had never played together before this tournament.
They have now eliminated five top-20 players, two seeded teams and saved a match point during their march into the semifinals.
“It was bloody hot today and the energy you guys brought was unbelievable,” said Kubler, also acknowledging the home-crowd support. “We really thrive off it and that’s why we play such great dubs.”
This is only Kubler’s third career appearance in a Grand Slam men’s doubles draw, while Hijikata is making his second.
Earlier in the day, John Peers fell short in his quest to become the third Aussie player (behind the esteemed Woodies, Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge) to advance to three Australian Open men’s doubles semifinals in Melbourne Park’s 35-year history.
Eighth seeds Marcel Granollers of Spain and Horacio Zeballos from Argentina proved too strong in their quarterfinal battle, edging out a 6-4 6-7(2) 6-2 victory in two hours and 24 minutes.
World No.16 Granollers and world No.14 Zeballos did not lose a service game in the match, helping them advance to a second consecutive Australian Open semifinal.
They’ll now play world No.163 Kubler and world No.277 Hijikata for a place in the final.
Kubler and Hijikata will look to continue an incredible run for all-Australian pairs at recent Grand Slam tournaments when they play their semifinal.
Should they reach the final, they would emulate Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios, and Matt Ebden and Max Purcell, both all-Australian pairs who clashed in the AO 2022 men's doubles final.
Kubler and Australian partner Jaimee Fourlis also advanced to the AO 2022 mixed doubles final.
Ebden and Purcell went on to win the Wimbledon men's doubles title in 2022, while Ebden and fellow Aussie Sam Stosur combined to reach the final of the Wimbledon mixed event.
Then, in New York in September, Peers combined with Australia's Storm Hunter to capture the US Open mixed doubles title.
Hunter, meanwhile, was ousted in the quarterfinals of the women's doubles on Wednesday.
She and Belgian partner Elise Mertens fell 7-6(6) 2-6 6-4 to Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk and Romanian Elena-Gabriela Ruse, who continued their giant-killing run.
The unseeded combination of world No.38 Kostyuk and world No.89 Ruse have eliminated both of Australia’s top-two ranked women, world No.12 Hunter and world No.20 Ellen Perez, during their run into the semifinals.