As we enter the final stages of the Australian Open doubles’ championships, there’s more than Grand Slam glory on the line.
There’s potential for some notable and historic feats to be achieved, ensuring fans can expect some spectacular and high-stakes matches.
Battles for world No.1
Australian Storm Hunter’s position atop of the WTA Tour doubles rankings is under threat, with three players capable of usurping her by tournament end. This includes her former partner Elise Mertens, who has reunited with Hsieh Su-wei this season. Germany’s Laura Siegemund and Canada’s Gabriela Dabrowksi also have a chance to rise to world No.1 should they outperform Hunter at Melbourne Park.
American Austin Krajicek, the reigning world No.1 in men’s doubles, bowed out in the second round alongside his Croatian partner Ivan Dodig. Their shock exit leaves the door ajar for Indian Rohan Bopanna to seize the top ranking. The enduring 43-year-old will become the new world No.1 if he advances to the semifinals alongside Australian partner Matt Ebden. If this happens, Bopanna will also become the oldest man to debut at world No.1.
Brilliant Bopanna
Bopanna has already soared to stunning new heights at Melbourne Park this summer. Making his 17th consecutive Australian Open appearance, the popular Indian has progressed to his first men’s doubles quarterfinal at the tournament. Surprisingly, the world No.3 had lost in the opening round in his past five visits.
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“There’s no stopping me now, I might as well go all the way,” Bopanna said after recording a third-round victory on Monday.
If Bopanna, who turns 44 in March, does manage to do just that, he would become the oldest player to win a Grand Slam men’s doubles title.
Clash of reigning champions
Katerina Siniakova and Barbora Krejcikova have been the most dominant women’s doubles team at the Australian Open in recent years, winning 26 of their 30 matches in a six-year period. This included title-winning runs in 2022 and 2023. After splitting at the end of last year, the long-time Czech duo are now set to face-off in the quarterfinals. Siniakova is partnering Hunter, while Krejcikova is playing alongside Siegemund.
A 15-match winning streak at Melbourne Park is guaranteed to end for one of the reigning champions. With Hunter and Siegemund also battling for the No.1 ranking, this is a must-see match.
Hot streak
Reigning US Open champions Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe are on a stunning 10-match winning streak at Grand Slam level. The fourth seeds have charged into the women’s doubles semifinals, which is a career-best result for both at Melbourne Park.
Routliffe, a 28-year-old from New Zealand, has added incentive to maintain their winning record. She is aiming to become the first woman from her nation to win an Australian Open doubles title in 45 years.
New contenders
Italian Simone Bolelli is the only former Australian Open champion to progress to the men’s doubles quarterfinals at this year’s tournament. Bolelli, who triumphed at Melbourne Park alongside compatriot Fabio Fognini in 2015, is partnering Andrea Vavassori this year. It means at least one new champion is guaranteed to be crowned at the end of the men’s doubles tournament.
Surprise semifinalists
Currently ranked No.625 in doubles, Zhang Zhizhen has exceeded his own expectations by charging into the men’s doubles semifinals alongside Tomas Machac. The 27-year-old Zhang had never won a Grand Slam doubles match before this tournament and is now the first Chinese man to reach a major doubles semifinal.
The 23-year-old Machac’s progression is even more surprising. While he is a top-100 singles player, he is unranked in doubles and had never previously played doubles at tour-level. The Czech does have high-profile support in his corner, with his partner being former world No.1 doubles star Siniakova.
Love match-up?
Speaking of tennis couples, American Desirae Krawczyk and Australian Andrew Harris were put in an awkward position at last year’s Australian Open. The off-court partners became on-court rivals in the second round of the mixed doubles competition.
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Both are still alive in this year’s mixed doubles draw, reaching the semifinals alongside their respective partners. Could we see another love match? World No.16 Krawczyk and world No.99 Harris could meet again in this year’s final.
Wild runs
Two sets of Australian wildcards have advanced to the mixed doubles semifinals. Olivia Gadecki and Marc Polmans have eliminated two seeded teams to reach this stage for a second consecutive year. Harris and his partner Jaimee Fourlis have also enjoyed a giant-killing run, knocking out the first and fifth seeds in their past two rounds.
“It feels pretty cool,” the 24-year-old Fourlis said.
“To be honest we didn’t expect to be in the draw, and now we’re into the semis.”