Aussie wildcards Jason Kubler and Marc Polmans have extended their remarkable Australian Open journey, securing a spot in the men's doubles final with a hard-fought victory. The local duo delivered another stunning performance to overcome Luke Johnson and Jan Zielinski 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in a match that lasted just under two hours.
An Unlikely Partnership Bears Fruit
Remarkably, this marks the first time Kubler and Polmans have competed together as a doubles team. Despite their lack of prior partnership, their chemistry on court was evident, and they have already suggested this successful collaboration might continue beyond this tournament.
Polmans Emerges as Third-Set Hero
Polmans, sporting his distinctive legionnaires hat, proved instrumental in the decisive third set. The Australians secured the crucial break when leading 4-3, with Kubler then serving out the match in impressive fashion. Following their triumph, the pair shared their joy with fans by distributing legionnaires hats, and Kubler proudly wore one during his on-court interview.
Kubler's Honest Assessment
"It's unbelievable. Far out, he carried me today," Kubler admitted regarding his partner's performance. "The second set, it almost felt like I had too much energy. And then I almost shut down a little bit. Without Marc on my side in this match, I don't know if I would have been able to get through that. So he did really, really well today and I'm so happy to be playing with Marc."
Kubler acknowledged he wasn't at his best and plans intensive practice sessions ahead of the final. "Luckily we get the day off tomorrow. So more importantly, I get the day off so I can shake some of those cobwebs out, you know, and get on the practice court," he explained. "Work on a few things because I know I'm better than what I showed today. So get on the practice court, get back to basics then be ready for the final."
Polmans' Emotional Breakthrough
Polmans expressed gratitude for the enthusiastic crowd support and shared his elation at finally reaching a final after experiencing four previous semi-final defeats. "I'm just soaking it up playing with Jason. My friends and family are here, so it's extra special for me," he said. "I'm just really, really happy."
Championship Showdown Awaits
The Australian pair will face either third seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos or sixth seeds Christian Harrison and Neal Skupski in the championship match. Kubler will be pursuing his second Australian Open doubles title, having previously triumphed in 2023 alongside Rinky Hijikata.
A Tournament to Remember
This Australian Open has already been extraordinary for Kubler, with his fiancée Maddison Inglis making an impressive run to the fourth round after coming through qualifying. The newly engaged couple entered the tournament celebrating their recent engagement and could potentially leave with combined prize money exceeding $1 million if Kubler emerges victorious in Saturday's final.
