Australian Open: Aussies advance to mixed doubles semi-finals

A wildcard duo have stormed into the mixed doubles semi-finals – and they won’t be the only Aussies in the final four teams.

Two all-Australian teams are among the final four in the mixed doubles after wildcard duo Olivia Gadecki and John Peers staged an impressive comeback in their quarter-final on Tuesday.

Gadecki and Peers, the Olympic men’s doubles gold medallist, lost the first set of their clash with Shuai Zhang and Rohan Bopanna but rode the momentum of their second-set win into a thrilling match tie-break as they claimed a 2-6, 6-4 (11-9) victory.

The win set up a trans-Tasman semi-final clash with Kiwi second seeds Erin Routliffe and Michael Venus, as Aussies Kimberly Birrell and John-Patrick Smith also advanced after a match tie-break.

THROUGH TO THE SEMIFINALS 🟢🟡

Olivia Gadecki and John Peers defeat Rohan Bopanna and Shuai Zhang to secure a spot in the semifinals of the mixed doubles.#AO2025pic.twitter.com/IJrOQpP6Ia

— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) January 21, 2025

Taking on a third-seeded pair including Australian doubles star Ellen Perez, the wildcards won 6-2, 3-6 (10-6) as Smith expressed relief that Birrell had signed up to play with him after he had encountered trouble locking in a partner.

Smith, 35, was cheered on by orange-clad friends from his college tennis days at the University of Tennessee, who Birrell said had been important supporters during their clash.

Birrell was thrilled with their progression to the semi-finals after a heartbreaking first-round singles defeat to lucky loser Eva Lys soured the start of her tournament.

“It’s absolutely amazing to play in the second week of a slam, especially here at home,” Birrell said after the win.

“I’m absolutely loving playing with (Smith), feeding off his energy, his college mates’ energy, and everyone else.”

Smith and Birrell will face British pair Olivia Nicholls and Henry Patten in the other semi-final.

Originally published as Australian Open: Aussies advance to mixed doubles semi-finals