MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Elise Mertens and Aryna Sabalenka defeated Czech pair Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova 6-2 6-3 to win the Australian Open women’s double title on Friday for their second Grand Slam title together.
In second place at Melbourne Park, the pair won their main maiden at the 2019 U.S. Open and the Rod Laver Arena victory was their fifth overall title.
However, they will not be working together at Grand Slam events for the rest of 2021 because Sabalenka wants to focus on singles.
“I’m just trying to put all my focus on singles,” Sabalenka told reporters, noting that the pair will be playing WTA events in Dubai and Miami next.
“I know that doubles, it’s not that hard, you don’t move more than on singles.
“It still takes a lot of energy. I just want to save it for singles, ”said Sabalenka, who is ranked 7th in the world in singles.
Mertens of Belgium, who is 16th in singles, and Sabalenka of Belarus left the Australian Open women’s singles draw in the fourth round.
In Friday’s double final, the pair lost three competition points before Sabalenka finished fourth with an ace and wrapped up the game when Siniakova put a wide backhand.
They celebrated with their signature jumps together as they held the cup.
“We had a tough draw in doubles, so we’re really pleased we pulled through,” Mertens said. “Some days … as today, we kept fighting. ”
Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai; edited by Peter Rutherford