Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten win thrilling Australian Open men's doubles title

Finland’s Harri Heliovaara and Britain’s Henry Patten staged a stunning comeback to claim the Australian Open men’s doubles title on Sunday, defeating Italian duo Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori 6-7(16), 7-6(5), 6-3 in a gripping final.

The victory marks Heliovaara and Patten’s second Grand Slam title, following their Wimbledon triumph last year. For the Italian pair, it was another heartbreaking finish, having fallen short in both the Australian Open and French Open finals in 2023.

"Could I have done it without you, Henry? I don't think so," Heliovaara said after the match.

"In a team sport, doubles, the most important thing is to find yourself a good partner, and I've succeeded in that pretty well. Not only on the tennis court but outside the court, we're such good friends."

"And I think that's what keeps us close together on the tennis court and brings us titles like this, super thankful."

The Italians, seeded third, started strong, breaking serve in the opening game. Despite failing to serve out the first set at 5-4, they clinched a dramatic tiebreaker that lasted 87 minutes.

Heliovaara and Patten, seeded sixth, rallied in the second set, winning a shorter tiebreak to force a decider. An early break in the final set gave them a commanding 3-0 lead, and the pair held firm under pressure, saving three break points to seal the victory after over three hours on court.

The win underscores Heliovaara and Patten’s resilience and partnership, solidifying their place among the top doubles teams in the world.

SportsLigue