Filip Polasek and Ivan Dodig came back from one set down in their 4-6 6-4 6-3 win over Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic after 1 hour and 57 minutes to advance to the Australian Open doubles final.
Dodig and Polasek reeled off five consecutive games from 4-4 in the second set to build up a 3-0 lead in the decider.
The Croatian and Slovakian doubles team avenged their defeat against Mektic and Pavic, who won their previous head-to-clash 6-2 6-4 in last January’s Antalya Open final.
Mektic and Pavic converted their second break point in the fifth game to win the first set 6-4. Dodig and Polasek got one break in each of the second and third sets to secure a comeback win.
“For me, It was the third semifinal in a Grand Slam and the first time we made it through. It was a huge relief and I am just super happy. Today was a great match. The guys played really well. Just few points decided it and I am happy it ended up for us”, said Polasek.
“Today we found the small things, we didn’t give them so many points and that was the key of the match”, said Dodig.
Dodig and Polasek have a 2-3 record as a team in ATP Tour finals, but have extended their record to 10-2 in their matches in the 2021 season.
Dodig and Polasek set up a final against either defending champions Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury or 2016 Australian Open doubles champions Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares. Murray and Soares have remained unbeaten for eight consecutive matches and beat Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah in the Great Ocean Road Open.
