Melbourne. Belgium’s Elise Mertens made her return to the world number-1 rating in women’s doubles memorable by profitable the Australian Open 2026 title with China’s Zhang Shuai on Saturday.
In the ultimate, the Mertens-Zhang pair defeated Anna Danilina of Kazakhstan and Aleksandra Krunich of Serbia 7-6 (4), 6-4.
In the primary set of the ultimate, the pair of Mertens and Zhang have been trailing 0-3 and then 1-4, however made an excellent comeback and received the set within the tiebreak. At one level within the second set, the pair had taken a lead of 5-0. Although Danilina and Krunich introduced again the thrill within the match by profitable 4 consecutive video games, Mertens and Zhang maintained their composure and completed the match.
Currently ranked sixth within the doubles rankings, Mertens, who received the Wimbledon doubles title with Veronika Kudermetova final yr, will once more turn out to be world No. 1 after the Australian Open. This would be the fortieth week within the Belgian participant’s profession that she shall be on the prime place in women’s doubles. This achievement was determined even earlier than the results of the ultimate.
Mertens and Zhang have beforehand performed within the Wimbledon doubles closing in 2022, whereas Danilina and Krunich have been runners-up on the French Open final yr. Saturday’s win is the sixth Grand Slam doubles title of Mertens’ profession. Earlier, she had additionally been champion at Melbourne Park in 2021 and 2024.
Earlier, within the combined doubles closing performed on Friday, Australia’s pair of Olivia Gadecki and John Pierce received the title by defeating France’s Christina Mladenovic and Manuel Guinard 4-6, 6-3, 10-8. With this, they turned the primary pair since 1989 to win the Australian Open combined doubles title twice in a row.