History served fresh! 🎉 China's Zhang Shuai and Belgian partner Elise Mertens smashed their way to victory at the 2026 Australian Open women's doubles final today, claiming their first Grand Slam title as a dynamic duo. The fourth-seeded pair defeated Anna Danilina and Aleksandra Krunic 7-6(4), 6-4 in a nail-biting showdown on Rod Laver Arena.
🔥 The match had fans on the edge of their seats: Zhang and Mertens rallied from 0-3 down in the first set, saved two set points, then dominated the tiebreak with surgical precision. Their second-set 5-0 lead nearly slipped away before they sealed the deal – proving even champions get the jitters!
This win is extra sweet for 37-year-old Zhang, who now holds three Grand Slam doubles trophies. 🏆🏆🏆 'This feels like my first time all over again,' she told reporters post-match. The pair previously reached Wimbledon's 2025 final and survived THREE match points in this tournament's second round against teen rivals.
For Mertens, this adds to her 2021 Australian Open singles semi-final legacy. Together, they've become 2026's most unexpected power couple – and they only started playing together last season! 👯♀️ Who said tennis partnerships need years to gel?
