Gadecki and Peers Defend Crown in Thrilling Repeat

In the charged atmosphere of Rod Laver Arena, Olivia Gadecki and John Peers became the first team to win consecutive Australian Open mixed doubles titles since 1989, defeating Kristina Mladenovic and Manuel Guinard 4-6, 6-3, 10-8. The wild-card Australians, returning as reigning champions for the first time since Mladenovic partnered with Daniel Nestor in 2015, absorbed the weight of expectation on home soil. Gadecki, at 23 and born 13 years after Jim Pugh and Jana Novotna’s back-to-back wins in 1988 and 1989, channeled that history into a performance laced with grit and precision.

The French duo struck first in the opening set, capitalizing on Peers’ wide shot for their second set point after Mladenovic’s double-fault had briefly revived the Australians’ hopes. Guinard’s steady serves forced errors from Gadecki’s returns, exploiting the hard court’s true bounce to build a defensive wall. As the humid evening thickened, the crowd’s murmurs underscored the mental strain of defending a Grand Slam, where every unforced error echoed louder.

Early pressure exposes defensive cracks

Mladenovic, pursuing her fourth Grand Slam mixed doubles title after wins at Wimbledon in 2013 and the Australian Open in 2014 with Nestor, plus the 2022 crown alongside Ivan Dodig, brought veteran poise to the net. Her crosscourt lobs pinned Peers deep, allowing Guinard to poach winners off Gadecki‘s aggressive forehands. The set’s rhythm favored the French experience, turning the Australians’ power game into hurried transitions on the fast Plexicushion surface.

Yet this early dominance only sharpened the home pair’s resolve, their familiarity with Melbourne’s pace hinting at a tactical shift. Peers’ instinctive volleys began clipping the lines, while Gadecki’s heavy topspin started climbing higher, testing the French depth. The loss amplified the season’s psychological undercurrents, but it also ignited a spark for the rebound ahead.

Second set ignites Australian surge

Gadecki and Peers broke Mladenovic’s serve at 2-1 in the second with a sharp inside-in forehand that left Guinard scrambling, then held for a 4-1 lead by winning 13 of 15 points. Their one–two pattern—Peers’ wide serve setup followed by Gadecki’s crosscourt topspin—overwhelmed the French approaches, the hard court’s speed amplifying each exchange. The crowd’s rhythmic roar swelled, easing the knot of defending pressure as the match evened at one set apiece.

This surge reflected months of adaptation, where Gadecki’s baseline fire complemented Peers’ net instincts against opponents more attuned to slower surfaces. Mladenovic’s volleys grazed the tape under the mounting tempo, her rhythm disrupted by the Australians’ directional changes. Leveling the score wasn’t just tactical; it rebuilt confidence forged through the draw’s earlier battles.

Tiebreaker rally seals historic defense

Trailing 5-7 in the final-set tiebreaker, the Australians rallied fiercely, Gadecki’s crosscourt backhand tying it at 7-7 amid deafening cheers before they pushed to 9-7. On match point with Peers serving, Guinard’s backhand drifted into the net, clinching the 10-8 victory as confetti rained down. The arena’s energy peaked, a release of national pride that validated their wild-card journey from qualifiers’ nerves to this pinnacle.

This comeback highlighted the duo’s adaptability, Peers’ slice backhands neutralizing drop shots while Gadecki’s inside-out forehands pinned the French deep. Their repeat, a rarity in mixed doubles, boosts rankings and sets a benchmark for chemistry under pressure. As they lift the trophy, Gadecki and Peers eye the tour’s next challenges with renewed poise, their legacy now etched in Melbourne’s hard-court annals.