With a second consecutive Australian Open mixed doubles title on the horizon, the records are growing by the match. Gadecki and Peers are hoping to become the first pair to successfully defend their title at the Australian Open since Jana Novotna and Jim Pugh in 1989, and the first all-Australian pair to do so since Margaret Court and Ken Fletcher 62 years ago.
The French pairing of Mladenovic and Manuel Guinard await Gadecki and Peers in Friday’s final.
“It’s incredible. When you start hearing some of those records, you pinch yourself a little bit,” Peers said.
“Our job first of all was to get ourselves to the final, now we’ll relax, watch [the other semifinal] and get ready for Friday.”
Dabrowski and Stefani take long road to doubles semifinals
Gabriela Dabrowski and Luisa Stefani, or ‘Stefanowski’ as they refer to themselves, have had their fair share of setbacks since they last reached a Grand Slam semifinal together.
Most recently progressing to the semifinals of a major as a duo at US Open 2021, they were forced to retire mid-match after Stefani tore her ACL. Dabrowski also dealt with her own adversity after being diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2024.
Now they are back to the penultimate stage together after upsetting No.3 seeds and Australian Open 2025 finalists Hsieh Su-wei and Jelena Ostapenko 6-1 7-6(5).
It’s Stefani’s first semifinal at Melbourne Park, and the Brazilian is the healthiest she has been for a while.
“It’s been a long road, a lot has happened both on and off the court. We had such a special friendship and relationship, and [our] partnership now is coming back together after a tough few years,” she said.
“I feel like this is the best I’ve felt in many years since my injury.
“Australia is one of my favourite places to play, so I’m so happy. There’s no place I’d rather be right now. It’s really nice to be here with Gabby, getting through to another semifinal. This is our new version, Stefanowski 3.0. Let’s see where we can go with this.”
Competing as a duo for the first time since Roland Garros 2023, Dabrowski is glad to be back playing with one of her closest friends on tour.
“I think it’s a really beautiful and special thing. I think it’s something rare out here on the tour to play doubles with one of your closest friends, someone who has been through so much adversity. Someone who has been an amazing support to me through a lot of ups and downs, too,” she said.
Dabrowski and Stefani will now face No.7 seeds Anna Danilina and Aleksandra Krunic for a place in the final, after they created an upset of their own – defeating the top seeds Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend 6-2 3-6 6-0.
“They’re a really good, tricky team. They work so well together, they’ve both improved so much over the last few years as well, in particular, in doubles,” Dabrowski said.
“We expect a great battle and a great level, and hopefully we can bring our best.”
