Elise Mertens and Aryna Sabalenka beat Barbora Krejikova and Katerina Siniakova 6-2 6-3 after 79 minutes to claim their second women’s doubles Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.
Mertens and Sabalenka saved 10 of the 11 break points they faced to win their fifth career doubles title and their second Grand Slam trophy after clinchng the 2019 US Open. The Belgian and Belarusian team improved their team win-loss record to 48-15.
Mertens and Sabalenka opened up a 4-2 lead after three consecutive breaks in the fourth, fifth and sixth games. Mertens saved four break points in the seventh game before Sabalenka hit an overhead winner to hold serve for 5-2 stopping the streak of three consecutive breaks.
Siniakova made three double faults, as she was serving to stay in the set.
The second set went on serve in the first seven games before Sabalenka earned the crucial break with a strong service return at 5-3. Sabalenka served for the match, but her team wasted three championships points in a marathon ninth game. Sabalenka and Mertens faced three break points, but Sabalenka earned a fourth match point with an ace. Mertens and Sabalenka converted their chance, as Siniakova hit her backhand wide.
“We had a really good couple of weeks, We had a tough draw actually in doubles, so we are really happy that we pulled through. Some days we just kept on fighting. I think it’s good not to be stressy all the time. We have singles and that is pretty stressy already. Then we have doubles, so we try to make it fun, but when we are on court, we want to win”, said Mertens.
Mertens and Sabalenka confirmed that they are not planning to play the remaining three Grand Slam tournaments together. Sabalenka wants to focus on singles tournament. However, they will play a few WTA 1000 and 500 tournaments together, including Dubai and Miami.
“For sure I like to play doubles. I just want to try something else, but I hope if one day I make a decision to come back in doubles, I have this girl over here for me. I just like to play matches. She can definitely try and we’ll see. If she still to play doubles, I am here”, said Sabalenka.
