Demon couldn’t win but here’s an Open final Australia cannot lose

A pair of Australian mixed doubles partnerships are on the cusp of grabbing the Australian Open title in a final that will turn the heart aflutter regardless of the result.

John-Patrick Smith and Kimberly Birrell of Australia have made the final of the mixed doubles at the Australian Open at Melbourne Park. Picture: Tennis Australia/ Scott Barbour.

Johns Peers whips up enough feel-good moments for a Tom Hanks movie. He won a joyful Olympic bronze medal with Ash Barty at Tokyo. Claimed gold with Matt Ebden in a highlight moment of the Paris Games. Now he’s on the cusp of grabbing the Australian Open mixed doubles title in a final that will turn the heart aflutter regardless of the result.

Four Australians are involved. Four wildcards. Four players stoked to be chasing a major trophy. Mixed doubles doesn’t carry rankings points and the prizemoney is modest – sharing $112,523 compared to the singles’ jackpot of $2.13m – but the final is invariably a giddy, cheerful and ultimately tense affair between players who rarely if ever compete on the hallowed concrete of Rod Laver Arena.

Peers will partner Olivia Gadecki against John-Patrick Smith and Kimberley Birrell at noon on Friday. It’s the first time all four mixed finalists have been Australian since Ken Fletcher and Margaret Court, who knew a thing or two about winning majors, defeated Tony Roche and Judy ­Tegart in 1967.

“A lot of fun,” Peers says. “Playing at home is always so much more special than playing overseas.”

Birrell: “I just can’t wait to get out there.”

Smith: “We got in as wildcards. We’re in the final.”

Birrell: “Four wildcards. So exciting.”

Smith: “Exactly.”

Olivia Gadecki and John Peers after practising. Picture: Tennis Australia / George Sal

Alex de Minaur couldn’t win against Jannik Sinner. Here, Australia cannot lose. The final is a great ending to a difficult summer for Gadecki. The Gold Coast 22-year-old was soundly beaten in both her singles matches as Australia fell short of the finals at the United Cup. She lost her first round at the Adelaide International. Given a match inside RLA at the Open, she succumbed in under an hour to Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova. A win for the road will soothe a few wounds.

“It’s always been one of my dreams to make a grand slam final,” she says. “To be playing one at the age of 22 is pretty cool. To play another Aussie team is incredible.”

Smith, 35, plies his trade on the Challenger Tour in doubles, competing at second-tier venues far removed from centre court at Melbourne Park. It’s his second mixed final at the Open. He and Australia’s Astra Sharma lost the 2019 final to Czech Barbora Krejcikova and American Rajeev Ram.

“Honestly, it’s the partner, not me,” he says of making a couple of deciders at his home slam.

Birrell interjects: “It’s no surprise JP gels well with whoever he plays with. He’s a great guy and super-supportive and always brings amazing energy on and off the court. Just speaking from how it’s made me feel this week, I feel very comfortable to really go for my shots because even if I miss, I know he still backs me. It’s going to be an awesome day on Friday.”