Krejčíková, Siniaková Win Australian Open Doubles for 7th Major Title

Defending champions Barbora Krejčíková and Katerina Siniaková continued their exceptional Grand Slam winning streak in women’s doubles by capturing the 2023 Australian Open title in Rod Laver Arena on Sunday.

No.1 seeds Krejčíková and Siniaková of the Czech Republic won their second straight title in Melbourne, and their seventh major title as a duo overall, by holding off No.10 seeds Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara of Japan 6-4, 6-3.

“I’m really excited to have this trophy again,” Siniaková said in the champions’ press conference. “To look back, what we achieved last few months, it’s amazing. I’m really proud and we’re playing great. The team spirit is working, because it’s tough.”

Krejčíková and Siniaková are up to 24 consecutive match-wins in women’s doubles at Grand Slam events. They have not lost a Grand Slam women’s doubles match since 2021, having won all three of the majors they contested last year (the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open).

The Czechs are also the first team to defend the Australian Open women’s doubles title since Italy’s Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci went back-to-back in 2013 and 2014.

Krejčíková and Siniaková have won 21 of their last 23 matches at Melbourne Park. Before their title run last year, they made the semifinals in 2020 and were runners-up in 2021.

Signing off in style ✍️💙

Ahoj 👋🇨🇿 @BKrejcikova @K_Siniakova#AusOpen • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/UDZULu5Q5a

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 29, 2023

“I have to say it’s a lot of hard work behind it,” Krejcikova said. “So many practices. I remember many matches that we got really close. Couple times we were to the semifinals at other slams, and we weren’t just able to get through.

Match breakdown

Even after a career-best week at a major, the Japanese duo were the latest team to fall to the currently unstoppable force that is Krejcikova and Siniakova. In 89 minutes, under a closed roof, the Czech pair fired 26 winners to their opponents’ 12 and converted four of their six break points.

The Czechs kicked off the match by grabbing the only service break of the first set in the opening game. Krejcikova faced two break points on her serve in the following game, but thanks to her forehand and Siniakova’s volleys, the No.1 seeds held for 2-0, and they were not threatened on serve for the rest of the set.

After falling behind another early break in the second set, Aoyama and Shibahara found solid returns to break Siniakova and pull back level at 2-2. However, a Krejcikova forehand winner gave the Czechs a love break and a 4-3 lead, and they swept to another major championship from there.