Neal Skupski and Christian Harrison just made doubles look like a rehearsed magic trick, trophy and all.
On a sun-slick Rod Laver Arena the newly-formed British-American pair beat Australian wildcards Jason Kubler and Marc Polmans in straight sets to claim the Australian Open men’s doubles crown, and they did it with very little drama and plenty of composure.
A Surprising New Partnership
Skupski and Harrison completed the match with a tidy scoreline of 7-6 (4) 6-4, showing that new partnerships can click faster than expected when both players know how to serve and volley at the same time.
The title arrived in only their second tournament together, which makes the quick chemistry all the more striking because doubles often needs months of practice and hundreds of rallies to find rhythm under pressure.
It’s obviously nice to get another grand slam,
Neal Skupski
Where This Win Fits For Britain
The victory continues a strong recent run for Britain in men’s doubles, marking the third time in the last five grand slam tournaments that a British player has lifted a doubles trophy, a run that now includes names from Patten to Cash, Glasspool and Skupski.
Henry Patten helped start the sequence by lifting the trophy last year alongside Finn Harri Heliovaara, and the home success of Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool at Wimbledon added to the feel that Britain has genuine depth in men’s doubles right now.
Skupski arrived here having recently reached the finals of both the French Open and US Open with former partner Joe Salisbury, partnerships that came tantalizingly close to further majors before circumstances changed at the end of the season for Salisbury.
The Independent and Guardian reporting notes that “the latter revealed at the end of the season that he was taking a break from the sport because of anxiety,” and it was mutual friends who helped bring Skupski and Harrison together for this fresh start.
That fresh start paid off in the biggest possible way: a Grand Slam. For Skupski it is his second grand slam men’s doubles title, after the Wimbledon crown in 2023, and he also boasts two mixed doubles titles at the All England Club, though this is his first major success away from home soil.
Match Moments And The Year Ahead
The final had its tight moments, especially a first-set tiebreak that set the tone, and Christian Harrison delivered an ace to clinch the trophy on their third match point, a neat finishing touch that left the winners grinning and the Australians applauding a good run.
Jason Kubler and Marc Polmans were the local story all week as a wildcard duo who played above expectation, but in the final the combination of calm returning and steady net play from Skupski and Harrison proved decisive, particularly in key service games late in each set.
For Skupski, who has long been a doubles stalwart on tour, this title should boost confidence and momentum for the season ahead, and for Harrison it is a statement result that could change scheduling and seeding conversations for the rest of the year.
From a British perspective the win provides continuity and evidence that the country can produce winners across surfaces and events, and it underlines how quickly doubles landscapes can shift when the right pairings find form at the right time.
Expect the headlines to focus on hardware, but coaches and captains will notice the intangible: Skupski and Harrison mixed savvy positioning with aggressive serving when it mattered, and that combination is hard to coach into existence overnight.
There will be plenty of talk about rankings, seedings and whether this partnership will stick around, but for now the pair get to enjoy the spoils and the honest reward that comes from winning a major on a big stage against hungry opponents.
If you like symmetry, Skupski now has a continental trophy to match his All England successes, and Harrison has a Grand Slam title to hang on the wall — both facts that make for very tidy résumés heading into the rest of the season.
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Christoph Friedrich is a German tennis player and coach currently residing in Oakland, California. He began his tennis journey at the age of eight and has since dedicated his life to the sport. After working as a tennis coach and hitting partner in New York City for eight years, Christoph decided to share his knowledge and experience with tennis players around the world by creating the My Tennis Expert blog. His goal is to make tennis education accessible to everyone and help players select the best equipment for their game, from racquets and strings to shoes and overgrips. Christoph's extensive research and expertise in tennis technology make him a valuable resource for players of all levels.
