Determined not to be overturned, Zhang Shuai clinched the Australian Open doubles title, fulfilling her promise of winning a Grand Slam this season.

Zhang Shuai and Mertens' triumph in the Australian Open doubles was regarded as another of the most exciting moments at Melbourne Park this year.

Before Zhang Shuai secured the Australian Open doubles crown, the audience had just witnessed 38-year-old Djokovic's impressive five-set semifinal win over Sinner. Barely recovered from that emotional scene, they then watched 37-year-old Zhang Shuai rise to the top in doubles, which caused a media sensation.

When Zhang Shuai and Mertens advanced to the doubles final against Danilina and Krunic, almost everyone believed their chances of winning were very high due to their clear advantages. With superior experience, records, and head-to-head stats, the opposing team had little chance to challenge them. The public simply hoped Danilina and Krunic could perform normally and avoid a quick defeat.

Although Zhang Shuai’s team won without much doubt, the 7-6 and 6-4 scorelines showed that Danilina and Krunic fought hard, and given the skill gap, achieving such close scores was commendable.

Looking back at this women's doubles highlight, Zhang Shuai and Mertens’ victory was far from easy; describing it as quite a nail-biter would not be an exaggeration.

The first set was the most intense, with both teams evenly matched until the tiebreak. Neither side took a clear lead until the tiebreak, where Zhang Shuai and Mertens stepped up, winning it comfortably and taking the set 7-6.

The second set was the most dramatic!

Perhaps still shaken from losing the first-set tiebreak, Danilina and Krunic quickly showed signs of collapse, falling behind 0-5 early in the second set against Zhang Shuai and Mertens.

Reaching this peak score of 5-0, most believed the match was already decided, with some even predicting a straightforward 6-0 finish to claim the title.

However, instead of a quick win, Zhang Shuai and Mertens showed signs of faltering, which shocked fans and online viewers alike.

After Mertens lost her first service game in the championship set, Zhang Shuai’s service game was slightly better, but despite having two championship points, Danilina and Krunic saved them both and broke serve again.

From leading 5-0 to being caught at 5-4 by their opponents, worries grew about whether Zhang Shuai and Mertens could close out the match on their next serve. A nervous fan commented that if they got overturned like this, it would be more painful than being stabbed by a thousand needles.

Fortunately, on their third championship service game, Zhang Shuai and Mertens seized the opportunity and closed the match 6-4, much to the relief of fans and viewers.

After the match, everyone praised Zhang Shuai, saying that after winning the doubles title in Adelaide and setting the goal of a Grand Slam doubles championship this season, many doubted its ease. Yet, she achieved this goal early in the season at the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year.

“My partner and I have great chemistry and enjoy ourselves both on and off the court, which helped us maintain a positive mindset—that was the foundation of our win,” Zhang Shuai said post-match, crediting the right partnership with Mertens and expressing hope to continue working together. The Belgian star smiled and agreed.

Though Zhang Shuai and Mertens have not partnered often, their collaborations have been high quality. Their first pairing at Wimbledon 2022 led them to the final, where they finished runners-up. This Australian Open title finally made up for missing out on a championship before.

Moreover, with this Australian Open doubles title, Zhang Shuai now holds three Grand Slam doubles championships, making her the top doubles player domestically, tied with Zheng Jie and others. Considering she won this title at age 37, it adds even greater significance to her achievement.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moonlit River’s Starry Sky)