Hsieh/Zielinski save MP to deny Krawczyk mixed doubles career Grand Slam

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Hsieh Su-wei and Jan Zielinski staged a dramatic comeback on Friday in Melbourne to claim the Australian Open mixed doubles title. The Taiwanese-Polish duo trailed Desirae Krawczyk and Neal Skupski by a set and a break, and later saved a match point in the Match Tie-break before claiming a 6-7(5), 6-4, 11-9 victory.

With both Hsieh and Zielinski looking for partners in the buildup to the event, the pair joined forces just before the draw. Less than two weeks later, they are Grand Slam champions — Zielinski for the first time in any discipline, and Hsieh for the first time in mixed doubles after six women's doubles crowns. 

"Thanks to my partner," Zileinksi said during the trophy ceremony. "We didn't know until the last minute who we were going to play mixed doubles with. I was looking until the very last day, or second-to-last day. We found each other on the 'looking' list and it worked out pretty well. So maybe we can keep it going for the next couple of tournaments. It was a great run."

What a moment for Su-Wei Hsieh & @zielaczekk ✨ @AustralianOpen | #AusOpen

pic.twitter.com/WclXPJWnXA

— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 26, 2024

From 2-4 in the second set, the third seeds won four straight games to level the match and then continued their momentum by building a 4/0 lead in the Match Tie-break. But Krawczyk/Skupski hung tough and eventually created a match point on a Skupski ace at 8/8.

It was all Hsih/Zielinski from there, with a three-point run closing out the match. They claimed the title with just one set lost in the tournament, having advanced to the final with four consecutive straight-sets wins.

Krawczyk was bidding for a career mixed doubles Grand Slam. She and Skupksi won Wimbledon in 2021 and 2022, while Krawczyk won Roland Garros and the US Open with Joe Salisbury in 2021.