Skupski’s Tire-Fix Bond Seals Doubles Summit Return
A roadside repair in preseason turned into the glue for Neal Skupski and Christian Harrison’s Australian Open triumph, propelling the veteran back to doubles World No. 1 after 29 months in the shadows.
Neal Skupski has returned to the summit of the PIF ATP Doubles Rankings, climbing to World No. 1 for the first time in 29 months. The Briton’s ascent capped a whirlwind start to 2026, sealed by a commanding Australian Open doubles title alongside new partner Christian Harrison. Their fresh alliance, forged in the offseason, turned early jitters into a flawless run through Melbourne’s heat, propelling Skupski from No. 9 straight to the top.
The pressure of chasing that elusive peak had simmered for nearly three years, ever since Skupski last held the honor in August 2023. This time, the mental weight felt different—no raw nerves of a debut climb, just a quiet resolve built from setbacks and resets. Harrison’s arrival brought a spark, their chemistry igniting amid the grind of a new season’s demands.
“I knew then that there was a chance of getting back to World No. 1,” said the 36-year-old Skupski. “I think that’s the best way to get No. 1 — winning a Grand Slam.”
A flat tire ignites preseason chemistry
Their story kicked off in December, far from the courts, when Harrison joined Skupski in Baton Rouge for a week of preseason drills. What started as routine prep hit a literal snag: a flat on Harrison’s rental car. The duo’s first real team moment unfolded roadside, tools in hand, laughter cutting through the frustration—a bond sealed in sweat and spare rubber.
“Probably our first team bonding event was changing one of Christian’s tires,” Skupski said. “Christian came to Baton Rouge to do preseason with me in December for one week. He got a flat on his rental car, so we did that as a team together. It was quite funny.” That lighthearted hurdle mirrored the psychological lift they needed. Skupski, a veteran with 18 tour-level doubles titles including a 2023 Wimbledon crown alongside Wesley Koolhof, had tasted No. 1 before—in November 2022, after a tense Paris match that clinched it with his former partner.
Yet the intervening months brought the quiet pressure of rebuilding, a three-time qualifier for the prestigious Nitto ATP Finals hungry to reclaim his edge. The tire change became shorthand for their partnership’s foundation: collaborative fixes under pressure, translating to on-court poise when the stakes rose.
First-round scare sharpens tactical edge
By Adelaide, their second tournament together, Harrison and Skupski had gelled enough for a semifinal push, setting a tone of steady progress amid the Australian summer swing. But the Australian Open opener tested that nascent trust: down a set to Jakob Schnaitter and Mark Wallner, they stared down 0/40 on serve twice in the second. The crowd’s murmur thickened the air, every point a reminder of the major’s unforgiving spotlight.
They clawed back, but the scare lingered. “We watched a lot of film after that to see where we could improve,” Skupski said. “And it definitely helped us moving forward throughout the two weeks.” Adjustments sharpened their game—tighter returns on second serves, quicker poach angles at net. The psychological shift was palpable: from rattled underdogs to composed hunters.
No sets dropped after that, their one–two punch of Harrison’s baseline depth and Skupski’s volley precision overwhelming foes on the hard courts. On Melbourne’s rebounding Plexicushion, where pace rewards precision, they varied serves—wide underspin slices to the backhand stretching opponents, followed by down-the-line heaters. Harrison’s heavy topspin forehand inside-out neutralized poaching, while Skupski’s crosscourt backhand redirects clamped passing shots, turning defense into quick points.
Championship calm fuels renewed ambitions
The final against home favorites Jason Kubler and Marc Polmans unfolded with surgical calm: a 7-6(4), 6-4 verdict that silenced Rod Laver Arena. Kubler’s aggressive lefty returns met Skupski’s heavy topspin lobs, while Polmans’ crosscourt slices found Harrison’s anticipatory covers. Their offseason rapport turned potential cracks into unbreakable synergy, the tire-change tale now legend in their shared lore.
Reflecting on the arc, Skupski contrasted this triumph with his 2022 breakthrough. “I think the only thing that was different was the first time being very nervous going into one of the matches in the end of 2022 knowing that if I won that match in Paris, we knew we’d be No. 1, me and Koolhof,” he said. The pressure then was electric; now, it’s a steady burn, fueling confidence without the old tremors.
“Getting back to World No. 1 definitely brings confidence and it’s been a great start to the year with Christian,” Skupski added. “Now it’s time to push on again and we need to reevaluate our goals. Winning a Grand Slam was one of our goals at the start of the season, so we’ll have to think about that and come up with new targets.” As 2026 unfolds, the duo eyes the clay swing and beyond, the weight of expectation lighter yet sharper. Skupski’s return isn’t just a ranking reset—it’s resilience in action, where a simple roadside fix spun into major glory and endless drive.
