Melbourne witnessed a historic moment on Day 13 of the Australian Open as Olivia Gadecki and John Peers triumphed in the first all-Aussie mixed doubles final since 1967. The wild-card duo defeated fellow Australians John-Patrick Smith and Kimberly Birrell with a 3-6, 6-4, 10-6 victory on Rod Laver Arena.
The match ended with Gadecki delivering an overhead winner, marking her maiden Grand Slam title. Peers, a seasoned campaigner, added another accolade to his impressive resume, which already includes an Olympic gold medal, a men’s doubles title at the Australian Open, and a mixed doubles title at the 2022 U.S. Open.
During the trophy presentation, the 22-year-old Gadecki expressed her excitement: “It’s so nice to play an all-Aussie final, so congrats.” She also thanked Peers, saying, “Thanks for letting me ride the wave and just having a great time out there.” Peers responded with encouragement: “You’re a class act — keep going. This is just the start for you.”
The moment was bittersweet for Smith, who marked his 36th birthday on the day of the final. Birrell made sure to lighten the mood, leading the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday” during the ceremony.
Gadecki and Birrell also made an impact in the women’s doubles event, reaching the third round earlier in the tournament.
Later in the day, tennis fans eagerly awaited the men’s singles semifinals. Novak Djokovic, a 10-time Australian Open champion, was set to face world No. 2 Alexander Zverev, while defending champion Jannik Sinner prepared to take on No. 21 Ben Shelton in the evening session.
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