| Match: Finished | 1 | 2 |
|---|---|---|
| H. Kontinen (FIN) (12) | 4 | 6(1) |
| P. Herbert (FRA) [5] | 6 | 7(7) |
| Completed Sets | ||
|---|---|---|
| Set won by P. Herbert | 6(1) - 7(7) | P. Herbert leads 0 to 2 |
| Set won by P. Herbert | 4 - 6 | P. Herbert leads 0 to 1 |
Aussie John Peers was unsuccessful in the Australian Open men’s doubles final, his pairing with Henri Kontinen defeated in straight sets by Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut.
Another grand slam title goes on the line this afternoon when Henri Kontinen and John Peers take on the French pairing of Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut in the men’s doubles final. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from around 3pm (AEDT).
On the Australia Day weekend, we have the chance for more local success in the doubles events with John Peers taking part.
After a relatively poor 2018, Kontinen and Peers, the tournament’s 12th seeds, have the chance to repeat their 2017 Australian Open success.
They have enjoyed a great run through the tournament, not dropping a set.
The best of their wins would have been the 6-3 6-4 against the third seeds, Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares, at the quarter-final stage.
However, ranked 28th and 29th in the doubles rankings, Kontinen and Peers will go in as underdogs against the French pairing, ranked 11th and 12th.
Herbert and Mahut, the tournament’s fifth seeds, endured two three-set matches in the early rounds before hitting their straps at the business end.
They took our doubles legends, the Bryan brothers, in the quarterfinal before comfortably accounting for Ryan Harrison and Sam Querrey 6-4 6-2 in the semifinals.
Against Kontinen and Peers’ 1 grand slam doubles title, Herbert and Mahut have won three. They will be looking to complete the full set this afternoon having never won the Australian Open.
If successful, they will become just the 8th men’s doubles pairing in history to achieve a career grand slam.
Prediction
Despite the difference in world rankings, Kontinen and Peers hold a 2-1 head to head advantage over Herbert and Mahut.
With a big Australian Open crowd behind John Peers, I think they will make it 3-1 by end of the afternoon.
Kontinen and Peers to win in three sets.
David Holden
Roar Guru
Don't go too far away as we are only a couple of hours away from the men's singles final. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday, Roarers
David Holden
Roar Guru
Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut are just the 8th doubles pairing ever to achieve a career grand slam. They didn't do it easy against the Kontinen and Peers team but consistent serving and more pressure on their opponents serve gave the deserved win to Herbert and Mahut
David Holden
Roar Guru
Great serve down the T sets up 5 Championship points. 6-1 Great groundstrokes from Herbert. GAME SET CHAMPIONSHIP HERBERT AND MAHUT 6-4 7-6 Kontinen/Peers 4 6 Herbert/Mahut 6 7
David Holden
Roar Guru
Great return from Mahut forces a volley error from Peers. 1-0 Deep volley from Mahut forces the error. 2-0 Body serve forces a missed return from Kontinen. 3-0 Ace to the backhand from Kontinen. 3-1 Double fault at a bad time. 4-1 Too good with Herbert's big serve to the backhand. 5-1 Kontinen/Peers 4 6 Herbert/Mahut 6 6
David Holden
Roar Guru
Great return from Kontinen forces the error. 0-15 Great serve to the backhand and Mahut hits the volley winner. 15-15 Good serve down the T from Herbert. 30-15 Great body serve but Peers manages the forehand return winner. 30-30 Kontinen misses the forehand return. 40-30 Good serve down the T and we are heading to a tie-break Kontinen/Peers 4 6 Herbert/Mahut 6 6
David Holden
Roar Guru
Big sliding serve. 15-0 Good volleying from Kontinen and Peers. 30-0 Kontinen hits an out ball and it's 30-15. Great serve to the backhand and Peers takes care of the rest. 40-15 Good volleying from Peers again and Kontinen holds Kontinen/Peers 4 6 Herbert/Mahut 6 5
David Holden
Roar Guru
Kontinen goes wide with his forehand return. 15-0 Second service ace down the T from Mahut. 30-0 Great volley down the line from Mahut. 40-0 Double fault and 40-15. Good control at the net and Mahut holds for 5-5 Kontinen/Peers 4 5 Herbert/Mahut 6 5
David Holden
Roar Guru
Good serve from Peers sets up the smash winner. 15-0 Sharp volleying from Kontinen. 30-0 Good serve down the T and Peers hits the smash this time. 40-0 Unplayable serve out to the backhand and Peers holds to love. Kontinen/Peers 4 5 Herbert/Mahut 6 4
David Holden
Roar Guru
Peers hits the forehand volley long. 15-0 Peers hits the forehand return down the line for the winner. 15-15 Not enough on Kontinen's return and Mahut wins with the volley.30-15 Good serve from Herbert. 40-15 Kontinen's backhand return this time wins the point. 40-30 Great forehand lob from Peers sets up the smash for Kontinen. Deuce Big ace down the T from Herbert Kicker serve forces the Peers' error and Herbert holds Kontinen/Peers 4 4 Herbert/Mahut 6 4
David Holden
Roar Guru
Deep serve to the body forces the error. 15-0 Good swinging serve down the T. 30-0 Good serve and volley winner from Peers. 40-0 Good serve again and an easy hold for Kontinen. Kontinen/Peers 4 4 Herbert/Mahut 6 3
David Holden
Roar Guru
Kontinen gets to the net but his forehand volley drifts wide. 15-0 Good point from both teams but the French pairing controls the net. 30-0 Big serve down the T. 40-0 Great work from Peers after an amazing half volley. 40-15 No doubt about that Herbert smash and Mahut holds Kontinen/Peers 4 3 Herbert/Mahut 6 3
David Holden
Roar Guru
Double fault. 0-15 Good groundstrokes from Herbert forces the volley error. 0-30 Good smash from Kontinen brings it back to 15-30. Good serve down the T and forehand volley from Peers. 30-30 Mahut's backhand catches the tape. 40-30 Kontinen's reflexes are strong but Mahut is too good. Deuce Peers backhand volley just misses and break point Good serve to the backhand and we are at deuce Double fault and another break point Great serving from Peers again when he really needs it. Deuce Herbert catches the tape with his forehand Great return forces the half volley and Herbert hits the backhand winner. Deuce Sharp backhand volley winner cross court from Kontinen 3rd double fault for the game and its deuce Good serve down the T and ad on the Peers' serve Good serve down the T again and Kontinen puts away the volley. The game goes almost 10 minutes but Peers holds Kontinen/Peers 4 3 Herbert/Mahut 6 2
David Holden
Roar Guru
Good backhand return from Kontinen. 0-15 Peers forehand return creates a volley error. 0-30 Kontinen lands the forehand topspin lob for 0-40. Peers backhand sails long but still 2 break points. 15-40 Kontinen return is picked off by Mahut. 30-40 Good serve to the backhand kicks and Peers can't control. Deuce Sharp volleying from Peers and another break point. Good serve to the backhand and nice volley from Mahut. Deuce Sliding second serve draws the error. Peers creates a chance but Kontinen misses the volley Kontinen/Peers 4 2 Herbert/Mahut 6 2
David Holden
Roar Guru
Herbert and Mahut aren't serving that well but Kontinen and Peers need to win more second serve points. Kontinen/Peers 4 2 Herbert/Mahut 6 1
David Holden
Roar Guru
Big smash from Peers. 15-0 Good serve draws the error. 30-0 Mahut overhits the backhand return. 40-0 Big serve to the backhand and Peers demolishes the forehand volley. That's an easy hold Kontinen/Peers 4 2 Herbert/Mahut 6 1
David Holden
Roar Guru
Defensive lob from Kontinen drifts long. 15-0 Big second serve down the T. 30-0 Kontinen's backhand return is wide. 40-0 Good serve from Mahut leads to the hold Kontinen/Peers 4 1 Herbert/Mahut 6 1
David Holden
Roar Guru
Peers to serve Great defensive volleying from Kontinen and Peers. 15-0 Double fault and 15-15. Ace down the T for 30-15 Good serve for 40-15 Good sliding serve to the forehand and Peers holds Kontinen/Peers 4 1 Herbert/Mahut 6 0
David Holden
Roar Guru
Double fault. 0-15 Great backhand crosscourt return from Peers. 0-30 Kontinen's sliced backhand is a bit of a brain fade. 15-30 Second serve kicks and forces the return error. 30-30 Deep second serve draws the error and they have a set point. 40-30 Good serve deep to the backhand and Herbert and Mahut have claimed the first set 6-4. Kontinen/Peers 4 Herbert/Mahut 6