Australian Open men’s doubles final result: Aussie qualifiers beaten in final
Luke Saville and Max Purcell fell just short of completing one of the greatest underdog stories in Australian Open history after the wildcard entry fell in straight sets in the men’s doubles final.
Tennis
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We’ve had the Woodies and the Maccas but there is a new Aussie men’s doubles team in town.
Despite a crushing 6-4 6-2 defeat in the Australian Open final on Rod Laver Arena, ‘the Slugs’ - Luke Saville and Max Purcell – are hoping to be a new force within the men’s game.
The pair have no idea where the name came from - make it up they told the media - but are happy for it to stick after a loss to Joe Salisbury and Rajeev Ram on Rod Laver Arena they hope can be career changing.
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The $380,000 runners-up payday for the wildcard entrants will help pay for extra coaching and fitness trainers they said.
“The money will go back into our tennis. It gives freedom, when you travel week to week you definitely watch your money a little bit,” Saville said.
“We can maybe fly business now and again.”
The Slug’s improved ranking – now within the world top 50 – will give the direct entry to the year’s majors and ATP 500 tournaments Saville said and will also mean refocusing on how much time they dedicate to doubles. They will continue to pay singles however, 21-year-old Purcell has a 216 singles ranking.
But doubles throws up great possibilities they were not on the radar two weeks ago – representing their country.
“We would love to play for Australia. There is a Davis Cup tie in Adelaide in March. We think there is a spot there in the doubles,” Saville said. The Olympics is now also a possibility they said.
Already the pair, who only joined forces 14 months ago have been on an extraordinary run, winning nine Challenger level titles but found themselves up against opponents of a higher level entirely, Salisbury and Ram making only three unforced errors all match.
“They played really well and we were down a little bit on how we played during the week,” 26-year-old Saville said.
It was an understatement, Salisbury the outstanding player and who put pressure on the Australian serve throughout the 6-4, 6-2 win.
It was a revenge of sorts for Salisbury who paired with Jamie Murray against Nick Kyrgios and Alex de Minaur in last month’s classic ATP Cup tie where the Aussies prevailed 18-16 on a third set tie-break.
“If they had told us before we got the wildcard that we would have got to the final we would probably have fallen over. It’s been a really good month,” Saville said.
Originally published as Australian Open men’s doubles final result: Aussie qualifiers beaten in final