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Neal Skupski continued Britain’s impressive recent record in men’s doubles by winning the Australian Open title with American Christian Harrison.
The new pair, competing in their second tournament together, defeated Australian wildcard pair Jason Kubler and Mark Polmans 7-6 (4) 6-4 at Rod Laver Arena.
It is the third time in the last five Grand Slams that there has been at least one British winner, with Henry Patten lifting the trophy last year with Finn Harri Heliovaara, before the home pairing of Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool triumphed at Wimbledon.
Meanwhile, Skupski and his former partner Joe Salisbury reached the finals at both Roland Garros and the U.S. Open, falling just short both times.
The latter revealed at the end of the season that he had taken a break from the sport due to anxiety, and mutual friends brought Skupski and Harrison together.
They could not have imagined that Grand Slam success would come so quickly and they fully deserved the title, with Harrison’s ace sealing victory on the third match point.
This is Skupski’s second Grand Slam men’s doubles title after winning Wimbledon with Dutchman Wesley Koolhof in 2023, and he has also won two mixed doubles titles at the All England Club, but it represents his first major success away from home.
PA