Former US Open doubles champions Elise Mertens and Aryna Sabalenka beat number 4 seeds Nicole Melichar and Demi Schuurs 7-5 6-4 setting up a title match clash against Barbora Krejikova and Katerina Siniakova, who came back from one set down to beat Darija Jurak and Nina Stojanovic 3-6 6-2 6-4.
Sabalenka and Mertens broke Schuurs in the 10th game with a return winner from Sabalenka. The 2019 US Open doubles champion saved five break points and earned their first set point with a service winner.
Sabalenka earned the first break of the second set with a forehand and held on their next service games.
Mertens and Sabalenka will face Krejikova and Siniakova for the first time since 2019.
Krejikova and Siniakova have not won the Australian Open doubles title as a team yet, but they claimed three Grand Slam tournaments at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open as a junior team in 2013 and two senior Major trophies at Roland Garros and Wimbledon in 2018.
Krejikova won two mixed doubles titles with Rajeev Ram in 2019 and Nikola Mektic in 2020.
This year Krejikova and Ram beat 2018 champions Gabriela Dabrowski and Mate Pavic 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 at this year’s mixed doubles tournament.
