Elise Mertens and Shuai Zhang have defeated Anna Danilina and Aleksandra Krunic to claim the Australian Open 2026 women’s doubles title at Rod Laver Arena.
It is Mertens’ third AO doubles crown and sixth career Grand Slam title, while Zhang secured her third major, adding to the title she won at Melbourne Park in 2019.
The Belgian-Chinese pairing recovered from an early 1–4 deficit in the opening set, regrouping to seize control with a commanding performance in the tiebreak.
From there, the veteran fourth seeds found rhythm, maintaining their authority over Danilina and Krunic — who were chasing a maiden doubles major — to close out the championship match 7-6(4) 6-4.
“We kept on fighting, we kept on believing, and we really grew as a team,” Mertens said in her acceptance speech, before addressing her partner.
“Today, in the final, I’m happy that I served it out. I’m very happy that you’re by my side. Thanks to everyone for coming, I see a lot of Chinese flags!”
Zhang, speaking to a crowd packed with passionate Chinese supporters, reflected on the partnership that led them to the title.
“Thanks to Elise, at the last second she asked me to play together,” Zhang said, revealing that they only decided to compete together in late December.
“Thank you for playing with me. You [could] play with everyone and win the trophy.”
Zhang’s major successes include the Australian Open in 2019 and US Open in 2021, both achieved alongside Samantha Stosur, who was in attendance to present the trophy to the champions.
“Today, for me, it’s really special because Sam is on court,” Zhang said. “This is why I’ve been waiting for the third one for so long! Thanks, Sam.”
Zhang later spoke about the significance of having her former partner watching on.
“I played with Sam. We won Australia, we won US Open, and also Rennae Stubbs was on court,” she said.
“Every time when I saw them, I can feel they give me energy, like Elise. So now we feel like not only we two on court. We feel like more energy, three, four. Then we team, coach, we have, like, big team.”
The title also carried added significance for Zhang, arriving exactly 20 years after Chinese duo Yan Zi and Zheng Jie captured the women’s doubles crown in Melbourne, upsetting Stosur and Lisa Raymond.
“Zheng Jie is on court,” Zhang pointed out. “Twenty years ago, she won the first Grand Slam in China. Thank you for helping me so much.”
Despite their decorated doubles resumes, the title marks the pair’s first Grand Slam triumph together, surpassing their previous best result as runners-up at Wimbledon in 2022.
Their Melbourne campaign was not without drama, having saved three match points in a second-round escape against Iva Jovic and Victoria Mboko.
Danilina and Krunic, meanwhile, impressed en route to the final, with a semifinal upset of defending champions Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova.
“Girls, congrats!” Krunic said to the victors in her runners-up speech.
“Anna said she hopes many more to come for you, but I hope we win one! Many more for you, but at least one for us!”
The Serbian then turned her attention to her Kazakhstani teammate with some heartfelt words about their journey to the final.
“These last couple of months I had a couple of things I had to deal with at home. It wasn’t easy for us but I’m very proud that we found a way to get here and give ourselves the best chance and I think that’s the best we can do,” she said.
“We learn from every loss. Thanks for playing with me. Out of three Grand Slams together, two finals are a pretty damn good job.
“I would like to dedicate this final to Stefan, my cousin, who is battling cancer right now, the biggest battle of his life, so I would like to show him some support and give him a round of applause.”
The victory is the 24th doubles title of Mertens’ illustrious career.
The former world No.1 has previously lifted the US Open (2019) and Australian Open (2021) alongside Aryna Sabalenka, the Australian Open (2024) with Hsieh Su-wei, two Wimbledon doubles trophies, and two WTA finals titles.
Mertens is set to return to the top of the doubles world rankings after previously hitting top spot in 2021.
It was also another successful singles campaign for Mertens, who reached the fourth round before getting knocked out by AO26 finalist Elena Rybakina.
The doubles champions confirmed they will continue to compete together for the foreseeable future.
“Our next tournament will be Doha and Dubai together,” Mertens said.