Parochial Support and High Stakes
The hometown crowd was on its feet, cheering loudly for the local favorites. Bill Gates, known philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder, was among the spectators. Gates is a good friend of Peers, as well as his ex-wife Paula Hurd, who also attended the match. The presence of Gates added an extra layer to the excitement, with many remembering that he had cheered for Peers against Americans in previous years.
Match Breakdown and Key Moments
The Aussies started poorly, falling behind early on due to Mladenovic’s strong returns and Guinard’s net attacks. They managed to save set points but were ultimately broken to lose the first set 4-6 in just 39 minutes. In the second set, Gadecki and Peers found their form, with Peers’ forehand finding its mark, particularly from love hold for 4-1.
They squared the match at 6-6 when Mladenovic sprayed a long return, leading to a tense tiebreak.
In the crucial moments, Gadecki delivered the ground strokes that kept their hopes alive. Peers’ return of serve proved decisive, sealing the victory with the French duo saving one championship point but ultimately unable to capitalize on the other. The match lasted 1:45 in total and was a testament to the determination and skill of both teams.
Reflections from the Champions
Gadecki expressed her delight at the back-to-back Grand Slam win, saying it felt just as good, if not better than last year. Peers, who also won the US Open 2022 with Storm Sanders and has a third mixed doubles title under his belt, remained humble in victory. “A bit shocked,” he admitted. “That could have gone either way. To be honest, I’m just happy that we kept sticking at it.”
The French pair didn’t take defeat lightly, both acknowledging the narrow margin of success.
Mladenovic said, “It’s just a matter of a few points,” while Guinard agreed, adding, “The margin is very thin; it was just a couple of points that maybe we could have done better.”
For Gadecki and Peers, the victory marked not only personal achievement but also a historic feat for Australian tennis. Becoming the first duo to win consecutive AO mixed doubles titles since 1988 and the first Australians to do so at their home Slam in 1963-64, they are now firmly established as one of the top pairs on the international circuit.
