Elise Mertens and Zhang Shuai Conquer Australian Open Doubles
Belgian tennis player Elise Mertens, reclaiming the top spot in the women’s doubles ranking, teamed up with China’s Zhang Shuai to secure the Australian Open title on Saturday.After four years without playing together, Mertens and Zhang came back from an unfavorable start in the first set, managing to defeat Anna Danilina of Kazakhstan and Aleksandra Krunic of Serbia with a score of 7-6 (4), 6-4. The pair led the final set 5-0 before withstanding a comeback attempt by their opponents, who won four consecutive games.
Mertens, currently ranked number 6 in doubles and winner of the Wimbledon doubles title last year alongside Veronika Kudermetova, will return to the top of the rankings after the Australian Open. This victory marks Mertens’ 40th week as number 1 in doubles, an achievement secured regardless of the outcome of the final at Melbourne Park. This is the sixth Grand Slam doubles title for Mertens, including those won at Melbourne Park in 2021 and 2024. Zhang has three titles, highlighting the 2019 Australian Open and the 2021 US Open. This triumph represents their first Grand Slam trophy as a team, after having lost the Wimbledon final in 2022 in their last participation together.Mertens advanced to the fourth round of women’s singles at Melbourne Park this year, being surpassed by Elena Rybakina, who ultimately reached the final. Zhang highlighted the good adaptation between both players.“This is like the cherry on top,” Mertens commented. “We came together as a team at the last minute… this was our first tournament together. In the second round we saved three match points, which took us to another level. Two incredible weeks”.
Elise Mertens
“We know how to play finals, we know how to win finals,” Zhang affirmed. “We are both very calm. If something doesn’t work… we always adjust.”
Zhang Shuai
