Tennis fans at the Australian Open witnessed pure magic on Friday as John Peers and Olivia Gadecki defended their mixed doubles crown, defeating Kristina Mladenovic and Manuel Guinard 4-6, 6-3, 10-8 in an electrifying Rod Laver Arena clash. The super tiebreak finale had the crowd roaring, with the Aussies snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.
After a shaky start, Peers’ net mastery and Gadecki’s baseline firepower leveled the match. The tiebreak was a rollercoaster: trailing 5-7, they reeled off points with Gadecki’s pinpoint returns and Peers’ acrobatic volleys. Mladenovic’s long ball at 8-7 shifted momentum; Peers’ thunderous reply made it 9-7. One championship point slipped away, but Guinard’s netted return sparked wild celebrations.
Breaking records left and right, this win makes them the first duo since 1988-89 to retain consecutive Grand Slam mixed titles. As Australians, they mirror Court and Fletcher’s 1963-64 home dominance—the first in over six decades.
‘We’re living a dream I didn’t dare imagine,’ Gadecki shared. Peers, collecting his third mixed Slam (after US Open 2022), builds on a stellar resume including 2017 AO men’s doubles and Paris 2024 gold.
This repeat performance underscores their unbeatable partnership, blending experience with youthful verve. Melbourne’s mixed doubles legacy grows richer, with Gadecki-Peers leading the charge into tennis’s future.