An exciting collection of familiar and brand-new teams are set to challenge for the Australian Open 2024 men’s and women’s doubles titles.
Eight former champions feature among the 57 teams to receive direct acceptance into the women’s doubles field, which is headed by Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula – unique on tour as top-five players in both singles and doubles.
VIEW: Australian Open 2024 women’s doubles entry list
Those former champions include two-time defending champions, Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova. However, the accomplished Czech duo have entered alongside new partners.
Krejcikova is teaming with German Laura Siegemund at AO 2024, while Siniakova is combining with world No.1 Storm Hunter.
It ends a run of sixth consecutive Australian Open appearances as a team for Krejcikova and Siniakova, who impressively won 26 of their 30 matches together at the tournament during that period.
HONOUR ROLL: Australian Open champions
Meanwhile, world No.2 Elise Mertens, the AO 2021 champion who played with Hunter throughout 2023, is reuniting with Chinese Taipei’s Hsieh Su-wei, who she shared the Wimbledon title with in 2021.
Other past Australian Open champions returning to Melbourne Park include Sara Errani (partnering Italian compatriot Jasmine Paolini), Bethanie Mattek-Sands (teaming with China’s Wang Xinyu), Timea Babos (playing alongside Hungarian peer Anna Bondar) and Kristina Mladenovic (partnering fellow Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia).
Aussie duo Rinky Hijikata and Jason Kubler will attempt to defend their men’s doubles title – a feat last achieved at Melbourne Park in 2011.
Their competition includes American Rajeev Ram and Brit Joe Salisbury, the AO 2020 champions, and Croatian Ivan Dodig, the AO 2021 champion who is pairing with world No.1 Austin Krajicek.
VIEW: Australian Open 2024 men’s doubles entry list
There are a total of 11 past Australian Open men’s doubles champions receiving direct acceptance in 2024. This includes Aussie contenders John Peers (the AO 2017 victor will partner Finland’s Harri Heliovaara this summer) and Thanasi Kokkinakis (the AO 2022 champion is teaming with fellow Aussie Alexei Popyrin).
Seven pairs of wildcards are still to join both the men’s and women’s doubles fields. These will be announced soon.
TICKETS: Catch world-class doubles action at Australian Open 2024