MELBOURNE, Australia — On Friday, Olivia Gadecki and John Peers triumphed in the Australian Open mixed doubles final, defeating John-Patrick Smith and Kimberly Birrell with a score of 3-6, 6-4, 10-6. This momentous victory marked the first all-Australian mixed doubles final at this prestigious tournament since 1967.

The thrilling match unfolded on Rod Laver Arena, kicking off Day 13 of the tournament, which is renowned as the first major event of the year. Gadecki sealed the win with an impressive overhead shot, not only marking the end of the match but also celebrating her inaugural major title. Peers, meanwhile, added this victory to his already impressive list of achievements, which includes an Olympic gold medal, a men’s doubles title at the Australian Open, and a mixed doubles championship from the 2022 U.S. Open.

During the trophy presentation, the 22-year-old Gadecki expressed her joy, stating, “It’s so nice to play an all-Aussie final, so congrats.” She also thanked Peers for the experience, mentioning, “Thanks for letting me ride the wave, and just having a great time out there.” In response, Peers praised her talent and potential, remarking, “You’re a class act — keep going. This is just the start for you.”

The final outcome was bittersweet for Smith, as it fell on his 36th birthday. Birrell made sure to acknowledge this during the presentation by leading the audience in a rendition of “Happy Birthday” for her teammate.

Earlier in the tournament, Gadecki and Birrell had partnered in the women’s doubles competition, where they successfully reached the third round.

The action continued later that Friday, as 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic was set to compete against second seed Alexander Zverev in one of the men’s singles semifinals. In another semifinal, the defending champion Jannik Sinner was scheduled to face No. 21 Ben Shelton during the evening match.