Olivia Gadecki and John Peers have triumphed in the all-Australian mixed doubles final, defeating Kimberley Birrell and J.P. Smith 3-6 6-4 [10-6].
It is Peers’ third grand slam title, having won the Australian Open men’s doubles in 2017 and the US Open mixed doubles in 2022, while it is Gadecki’s maiden grand slam title.
In the first all-Aussie mixed doubles final since 1967, Birrell and Smith took the early advantage, winning the first set after some sublime tennis.
Gadecki and Peers fought back in the second and ultimately capitalised on a loose service game from J.P. Smith at 4-5 - including two double faults - to take the set.
The pair then took the lead in the deciding match tiebreak and held on just long enough to secure the title.
“That one was a really tight match out there,” Peers said.
“For us to be able to get it done the way we did in the tiebreak, was credit, especially to the way Liv came back into this match. She really took charge and took it on her own to really step it up there at the end, which was fantastic.
“As we've been doing match after match, we just kept hanging in there, and hopefully things go our way," Peers continued.
"Today we hung around long enough, and then we were better for the last five minutes of the match, which worked out really nice.”
“I played some of my best tennis in that last ten minutes, and I'm so glad we could get over the line,” Gadecki added.
The 22-year-old revealed that Peers asked her if they could team up after the Olympics, and while she didn’t say yes initially, she was eventually glad with her decision to team up with the Olympic gold medallist.
“I've learned quite a lot from John these last couple of weeks. He’s an amazing person and player. He just really taught me to keep enjoying it, keep showing up. When you have your chance, take it. But even if you don't, there will be many more.”
For Peers, the opportunity to play at home and win a second grand slam tournament in Australia was particularly special.
“To win at home tops everything to me. To be able to play in front of friends and family is even sweeter. Playing at home can sometimes add more pressure, but it can also be a lot more fun.”
“Anytime I get to come back and play at home, I absolutely love it. To be able to do it alongside Liv here and win the mixed again, yeah, as you said, eight years later, it's great to see that I'm still doing a lot of right things off the court.
"[I'm] just enjoying the ride of everything that goes along with playing tennis now. Unfortunately, we don't get to be home that often, but to win at home is amazing,” Peers added.
Click here to watch live tennis on Stan Sport.
While disappointed with the defeat, Birrell and Smith were still delighted with their tournament, having well exceeded their expectations as a wildcard pairing.
“I didn’t even think a grand slam final was on the cards for me,” said Birrell.
“It’s been super special and such an amazing experience and to share it with J.P. has been really fun.”
For Birrell, the experience of making a grand slam final has only motivated her to continue to chase further success.
“Now that I’ve had a little taste, it would be really cool to pull the big trophy one day.”
A hallmark of the mixed doubles tournament has been the vociferous support of Smith’s college friends from the University of Tennessee, and Smith revealed after the match that they had continued to extend their trip after the pair’s success.
“I appreciate them sticking it out because it’s not easy to keep extending but it’s so much fun and they’ve provided a lot of great atmospheres as well.”
Both pairs revealed they aim to play together at the 2026 Australian Open and would seek wildcard opportunities into the other grand slams if they were available.
Your Ultimate Tennis Destination! 🎾
Tennis Direct Australia is more than just a store - Australia’s #1 online tennis retailer, bringing you world-class brands, unbeatable value, and exceptional customer service to support your love for the game.
👉 Shop now at www.tennisdirect.com.au with a 15% storewide discount code: SERVE15, Valid until 31/12/2025 excludes clearance items, machines, court equipment and gift cards.
Comments