Elise Mertens and Zhang Shuai captured the Australian Open women’s doubles championship on Saturday, defeating Anna Danilina and Aleksandra Krunic 7-6(4), 6-4 to secure their first Grand Slam title as a partnership at Melbourne Park.
The fourth-seeded Belgian-Chinese duo sealed the victory on Rod Laver Arena after a composed performance under pressure, marking a breakthrough moment for a team playing its first tournament together. The triumph delivered Mertens her sixth career Grand Slam doubles title and Zhang her third, while also positioning Mertens to rise to world No. 1 in the WTA doubles rankings.
The title run was nearly derailed early in the tournament. Mertens and Zhang survived three match points in the second round against teenagers Iva Jovic and Victoria Mboko, a turning point that reshaped their campaign.
“It’s been quite a week,” Mertens said after the final. “In the second round we had three match points against us. We kept fighting, kept believing, and we really grew as a team. This is the first week we’ve actually played together — and what a result. It’s been amazing.”
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Danilina and Krunic opened the final strongly, racing to a 4–1 lead in the first set with aggressive baseline play and sharp net movement. Mertens and Zhang responded with four straight games, shifting the momentum and forcing their opponents into a tense finish.
The underdogs held firm to push the set into a tiebreak, but the experience of the fourth seeds proved decisive. Mertens led a series of quick-reaction exchanges at the net to create set point, and the pair closed out the opener in 55 minutes.
That confidence carried into the second set, where Mertens and Zhang surged to a 5–0 lead with controlled serving and precise placement. Danilina and Krunic mounted a late comeback, saving two championship points as Krunic energized the crowd with aggressive returns.
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The match ended on Mertens’ serve, with Zhang sealing the title by firing a backhand winner at the net.
Despite the loss, Krunic reflected positively on the run to the final, pointing to challenges off the court that made the achievement meaningful.
“We’ve had a lot to deal with over the past couple of months,” Krunic said. “It wasn’t easy, but I’m very proud of us for finding a way to get here and give ourselves the best chance. We learn from every loss.”