Mertens and Zhang win Australian Open women's doubles title
Belgium’s Elise Mertens and China’s Zhang Shuai lifted the Australian Open women’s doubles trophy on Saturday, sealing their first Grand Slam title together with a straight-sets victory over Anna Danilina and Aleksandra Krunic at Rod Laver Arena.
The fourth-seeded pairing overcame early setbacks and late nerves to defeat the seventh-seeded Kazakh-Serbian duo 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 in one hour and 48 minutes, capping an impressive run in just their seventh tournament as a team.
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The final did not begin smoothly for Mertens and Zhang. Danilina and Krunic made a fast and aggressive start, breaking Zhang in the opening game and putting immediate pressure on the favourites. Mertens was also unable to hold serve soon after, leaving the new partnership scrambling to find its rhythm.
As the set progressed, however, Mertens and Zhang settled into the contest, tightening their service games and dictating play from the baseline. They recovered the early deficit and pushed the opener to a tense tiebreak, where they raised their level at the crucial moments to take control and edge the set.
Momentum swings in the second set
Buoyed by the tiebreak win, the fourth seeds carried their momentum into the second set, racing into a commanding 5-0 lead as their opponents struggled to halt the flow.
Yet, with the title in sight, nerves crept in. Danilina and Krunic mounted a late resistance, saving two match points in the eighth game and threatening to force a dramatic turnaround. The pressure lingered until Zhang finally closed out the contest with a clean backhand winner, sparking celebrations on Rod Laver Arena.
Milestones for both champions
The victory marks a significant milestone for both players. For Mertens, it is her third Australian Open women’s doubles title, having previously won the tournament in 2021 with Aryna Sabalenka and again in 2024 alongside Hsieh Su-wei. The triumph will also see the Belgian reclaim the women’s doubles world No. 1 ranking.
Zhang, a former doubles world No. 2, secured her third Grand Slam women’s doubles crown. She previously won the Australian Open in 2019 and the US Open in 2021, both times partnering Australia’s Samantha Stosur.
Although this was the pair’s first major title together, their chemistry has been evident for some time. They were runners-up at Wimbledon in 2022, and their Melbourne success confirms their growing status as one of the tour’s most effective partnerships.
Final heartbreak for Danilina and Krunic
For Danilina and Krunic, the defeat was a bitter disappointment. The pair had entered the final in strong form and were runners-up at last year’s French Open, but were unable to sustain their early momentum against the experience and composure of Mertens and Zhang.
Despite the loss, their performance throughout the tournament underlined their credentials as consistent contenders at the highest level of women’s doubles.
SportsLigue