The men’s doubles final on Saturday at the Australian Open features third seeds Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan looking for another title in Melbourne, while fourth seeds and reigning ATP Finals champions Henri Kontinen/John Peers seek their first Grand Slam title.
Kontinen/Peers lead their FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry over the Bryans 2-0, with both straight-sets victories coming this past November at the Paris Masters and ATP Finals. The Finnish-Australian pair are arguably the most in-form doubles team at the moment, having won 15 of their past 16 matches dating back to Paris.
However, the Bryans have far more experience in Grand Slam championship matches. They are contesting their 30th Grand Slam final together (16-13), while Peers is playing his third and Kontinen his first. The American twins are competing in their 10th Australian Open doubles final and are seeking their seventh title (2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013).
Should they prevail over Kontinen/Peers, the Bryans will equal the all-time Grand Slam championship doubles titles’ record, currently held by Australia’s John Newcombe, who won 17 team majors during his career. The American twins are tied with Roy Emerson and Todd Woodbridge with 16 titles.
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The Bryans survived a marathon quarter-final battle over ninth seeds Ivan Dodig/Marcel Granollers, but didn't drop a set in their other four matches. Kontinen/Peers needed three tie-breaks to get through No. 14 seeds Juan Sebastian Cabal/Robert Farah in the third round, but have convincingly won the rest of their matches this fortnight.
The winning team receives 2,000 Emirates ATP Rankings points and split $650,000, while the runners-up earn 1,200 Emirates ATP Rankings point and split $325,000.