History beckons for Jason Kubler and Marc Polmans after their gripping 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 semifinal victory propelled the Australian wildcards into the Australian Open men’s doubles final. Facing off against Britain’s Luke Johnson and Poland’s Jan Zielinski, the home favorites delivered under pressure on Melbourne’s center court.
Kubler’s resilience shone through his bandaged knee. He ignited the first set with a spectacular leaping smash for the break, then unleashed return winners to build an insurmountable 5-1 lead. Polmans’ flawless hold clinched it.
The middle set exposed vulnerabilities: poor first-serve percentages allowed a fightback. Yet, the third set showcased champions. Polmans repelled break points in a marathon game seven, then the duo pounced on Johnson’s serve. Zielinski’s errant return ended it.
Their opponents in the final? The seasoned Neal Skupski and Christian Harrison, who ousted top seeds Granollers and Zeballos convincingly. Kubler, fresh off his 2023 wildcard triumph here, aims to repeat. Polmans, a 2017 semifinalist, chases his first GS final appearance.
This matchup pits youth and heart against experience. With Melbourne roaring, Kubler-Polmans carry the nation’s hopes for doubles silverware.