Rewriting the history books, hometown wildcards Olivia Gadecki and John Peers became the first pairing in 37 years to successfully defend their Australian Open mixed doubles title after clinching victory on Friday.
The Australian duo edged past France’s Kristina Mladenovic and Manuel Guinard 4-6, 6-3, 10-8 in a thrilling final inside Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne.
“I don’t quite know where to start. I can’t believe we are in this position right now,” Gadecki said during the trophy ceremony. “I knew we could do it, but I didn’t think we could really do it, if you know what I mean.”
With the win, Gadecki and Peers became the first team to win consecutive Australian Open mixed doubles crowns since Jana Novotna and Jim Pugh in 1988-89. They also became the first Australians to go back-to-back at their home Slam since Margaret Court and Ken Fletcher achieved the feat in 1963-64.
For Peers, it marked his third Grand Slam mixed doubles title, having also won the US Open 2022 alongside Storm Sanders. The Australian has previously lifted the Australian Open men’s doubles trophy in 2017 with Finland’s Henri Kontinen, and also claimed Olympic gold at the 2024 Paris Games with Matthew Ebden.
Meanwhile, it was a second Grand Slam title for WTA star Gadecki, after her breakthrough triumph at Melbourne Park in 2025, also alongside Peers.
The final went down to the wire, with the Australians staring at trouble after falling behind 5-7 in the match tiebreak. However, they held their nerve brilliantly, winning five of the final six points to complete the comeback.
Gadecki was particularly composed from the baseline in the decisive moments, while the French pair tightened as the finish line approached. The Aussies moved ahead 8-7 after Mladenovic sent a long return before Peers produced a crushing return winner to make it 9-7, earning two championship points.
Mladenovic and Guinard saved one, but the Australian celebration was sealed when Guinard, playing his first Grand Slam final, sent Peers’ second-serve return into the net, as per Australian Open reports.