Olivia Gadecki, John Peers go back-to-back in mixed doubles to snap 37-year drought

(Getty/Phil Walter)

Olivia Gadecki and John Peers have clinched a tight mixed doubles championship with a thrilling win over Kristina Mladenovic and Manuel Guinard 4-6, 6-3, 10-8 to become the first pair to defend the Australian Open mixed doubles title since 1989.

The French got off to the best possible start, with Peers struggling on his serve and being broken twice despite Gadecki holding her own on serve and return, which gave the French pair the advantage all the way through the set.

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The Aussies were stronger in the next set, breaking serve to send the match into a decisive match-tiebreak. Despite the passion of Guinard and Mladenovic, which gave them a 7-5 lead in the tiebreak, Peers and Gadecki found their level at the right moment, with Peers crushing a forehand return winner before serving out the match.

"That could have gone either way. To be honest with you, just sort of happy that we kept sticking with it. That was one of those matches that could have gone either way, and it was on a knife's edge," said Peers.

"We just did a great job to stick with what we were doing so well all tournament. I think it came through right at the end for us when we really needed it."

Gadecki added: "Yeah, it's pretty incredible to be back-to-back Grand Slam winners. Even saying that out loud is crazy, and I'm still trying to kind of comprehend it, but it's so nice to get it at home in front of friends and family."

Mladenovic and Guinard were also full of joy in the trophy presentation, thanking each other for trusting one another, with Guinard in his first Grand Slam final and Mladenovic returning from injury.

With an unbeaten record in mixed doubles, it will be interesting to see if Gadecki and Peers begin to receive wildcards for other Grand Slams, with a combined doubles ranking of over 100 at the moment, which would leave them outside the cut for direct entry. However, it seems a given they will be back next year to go for the three-peat, wildcard or not.

"I'd love to say yes now. So hopefully we don't need a wild card, but if we do, TA can give us another wild card," said Peers.

"Thank you in advance," added Gadecki.

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