Harrison and Skupski Storm into Australian Open Final
A fresh partnership turns early doubts into doubles dominance as Christian Harrison and Neal Skupski edge past veterans to set up a tense title clash with surging Aussies Jason Kubler and Marc Polmans.
Under Melbourne’s afternoon glare, Christian Harrison and Neal Skupski turned their budding alliance into a semifinal statement at the Australian Open. The sixth seeds outlasted Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos 6-3, 7-6(7), a pair who claimed two majors in 2025. This marks the first major final for the duo, who linked up in Adelaide earlier this month after separate runs to last year’s Nitto ATP Finals.
New bond sharpens tactical edge
Harrison and Skupski wasted little time asserting control, breaking early in the first set with deep crosscourt returns that pinned the Spaniards back. Skupski’s slice serves kept returns low, setting up Harrison’s inside-out forehands to carve open the court. Their one-two pattern—wide serve followed by aggressive net poach—disrupted Granollers and Zeballos’s rhythm, forcing uncharacteristic errors on the medium-paced hard courts.
In the second set, the veterans rallied, but the Brits held firm through a tight tiebreak. Harrison‘s reflex volley at 6-6 turned defense into a winner, while Skupski covered the line with precise down-the-line passes. This composure under pressure eases the scrutiny on a partnership still finding its footing, blending Harrison’s power with Skupski’s tactical nous.
Aussies ignite Rod Laver roar
Meanwhile, wild cards Jason Kubler and Marc Polmans fed off the home crowd’s energy inside Rod Laver Arena, grinding out a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 win over Luke Johnson and Jan Zielinski. Kubler, with a 14–3 doubles record at his home major including the 2023 title alongside Rinky Hijikata, unleashed heavy topspin forehands to reclaim the decider. Polmans, topping his 2017 semifinal debut with Andrew Whittington, mixed in underspin slices to vary the pace and draw cheers.
The Aussies’ shift in the third set came via inside-in backhands that exploited gaps, breaking at 4-3 after a grueling game. This run amplifies Kubler’s Melbourne affinity and gives Polmans his deepest major doubles push yet. Their crowd-fueled grit sets the stage for Saturday’s championship match, the first ATP head-to-head between these teams.
Final promises grit versus poise
As the title looms, Harrison and Skupski carry the momentum of validated chemistry against Kubler and Polmans’ partisan surge. The Brits’ return game could neutralize the Aussies’ firepower, but Rod Laver’s buzz will test every volley. On these grippy hard courts, a blend of new synergy and home resolve points to a final defined by unbroken focus.
