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Neal Skupski continued Britain’s impressive recent record in men’s doubles by winning the Australian Open title in tandem with American Christian Harrison. The newly-formed pair, playing in just their second tournament together, defeated the Australian wildcard duo Jason Kubler and Marc Polmans 7-6 (4), 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena.
It is the third time in the past five grand slam tournaments that there has been at least one British winner, with Henry Patten lifting this trophy last year alongside Finn Harri Heliovaara before the duo of Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool triumphed at Wimbledon.
Skupski and his former partner Joe Salisbury, meanwhile, reached the final of both the French Open and US Open, coming up just short both times. The latter revealed at the end of the season that he was taking a break from the sport because of anxiety, and mutual friends brought Skupski and Harrison together.
They could not have imagined how quickly slam success would arrive, and they were fully deserving winners of the title, with a Harrison ace clinching victory on their third match point.
It is Skupski’s second grand slam men’s doubles title after he won the Wimbledon crown in 2023 with the Dutchman Wesley Koolhof, while he also has two mixed doubles titles at the All England Club, but this represents his first major success away from home soil.
“It’s obviously nice to get another grand slam,” said Skupski. “I was very close last year at the US Open and lost narrowly in the French. Christian has given me a new lease of life this year. We’re very happy. We’re so excited for the year ahead. Still things that we can work on, but this is definitely an amazing start.”
