Olivia Gadecki and John Peers repeat as Australian Open mixed doubles champions

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Olivia Gadecki and John Peers became the first team to win consecutive Australian Open mixed doubles titles since 1989 after beating the French pair of Kristina Mladenovic and Manuel Guinard 4-6, 6-3, 10-8 on Friday.

The Australians trailed 7-5 in the final-set tiebreaker before coming back to lead 9-7. On match point and with Peers serving, Guinard hit a backhand into the net to clinch victory for the home players at Rod Laver Arena.

Wild-card entries Gadecki and Peers were the first reigning Australian Open mixed doubles champions to return to the final the following year since Mladenovic and Daniel Nestor in 2015. The 23-year-old Gadecki was born 13 years after Jim Pugh and Jana Novotna went back to back in 1988 and 1989.

"Sort of a bit shocked," Peers said. “That could have gone either way. Just sort of happy that we kept sticking with it . . . it was on a knife’s edge.”

The French team won the opening set on its second set point when Peers hit a shot wide, three games after Mladenovic double-faulted on set point and the Australian team broke to keep the set alive.

In the second set, Gadecki and Peers went ahead 3-1 on a service break and then held to take a 4-1 lead, winning 13 of 15 points to put them in control of the set and level the match.

Mladenovic was trying to win her fourth Grand Slam mixed doubles title — she won Wimbledon in 2013 and the Australian Open in 2014 with Nestor and the 2022 Australian Open mixed doubles title with Ivan Dodig. She also has six Grand Slam women's doubles titles.

"Winning a Grand Slam once is very difficult but defending it is even harder ... big congrats to you!” Mladenovic said to Gadecki and Peers.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

France's Kristina Mladenovic and Manuel Guinard address the crowd aftre losing to Australia's Olivia Gadecki and John Peers in the mixed doubles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Australia's Olivia Gadecki and John Peers kiss their trophy after defeating France's Kristina Mladenovic and Manuel Guinard in the mixed doubles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Australia's Olivia Gadecki and John Peers celebrate after defeating France's Kristina Mladenovic and Manuel Guinard in the mixed doubles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Australia's Olivia Gadecki, left, and John Peers, second right, are congratulated by France's Kristina Mladenovic, right, and Manuel Guinard, second left, after winning the mixed doubles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Australia's Olivia Gadecki and John Peers in action against France's Kristina Mladenovic and Manuel Guinard in the mixed doubles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Australia's Olivia Gadecki and John Peers celebrate after defeating France's Kristina Mladenovic and Manuel Guinard in the mixed doubles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

DENVER (AP) — Brandon Marsh hit a three-run homer as part of a seven-run first inning, Aaron Nola pitched efficiently into the seventh and the Philadelphia Phillies spoiled Colorado’s home opener by beating the Rockies 10-1 on Friday.

The Phillies set the tone early by sending 11 batters to the plate against Michael Lorenzen (0-1) to begin the game. They finished with 13 hits, including three homers — all by lefties — with the wind blowing from left field. Marsh hit a sinker that went a projected 454 feet to the second deck in right-center. In the second, Bryce Harper launched a solo shot. Kyle Schwarber added a 460-foot drive to right field in the fifth.

Nola (1-0) scattered five hits and gave up one run over 6 1/3 innings. He struck out nine — the bullpen had six more — as Philadelphia won its eighth straight over Colorado. The latest one marked the Rockies' most lopsided loss in a home opener.

It also was win No. 350 for Phillies manager Rob Thomson, making him the fastest to reach the mark in club history (604 games).

There were 48,366 fans who showed up on a sunny but cool afternoon. The Rockies, a team coming off three straight 100-loss seasons, dropped to 18-16 in home openers, including 17-15 at Coors Field.

It was a rough outing for Lorenzen, who allowed nine runs and 12 hits over three innings. Mickey Moniak had one of Colorado's five hits in his first game of the season. Moniak started on the injured list due to a sprained right ring finger.

The Rockies were coming off a three-game series win in Toronto. They didn't capture their first series last season until early June against Miami.

The Phillies will throw lefty Jesús Luzardo (0-1, 9.00 ERA) on Saturday. The Rockies hadn't announced a scheduled starter, but right-hander Chase Dollander (1-0, 9.00) is expected to get some work.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen calls for a new ball after giving up a three-run home run to Philadelphia Phillies' Brandon Marsh in the first inning of a baseball game Friday, April 3, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

From left to right, Philadelphia Phillies' Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh celebrate as Marsh crosses home plate after hitting a three-run home run off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen in the first inning of a baseball game Friday, April 3, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola works against the Colorado Rockies in the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, April 3, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper, right, congratulates Kyle Schwarber after his solo home run off Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Valente Bellozo in the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, April 3, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Philadelphia Phillies' Brandon Marsh, right, follows the flight of his three-run home run off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen in the first inning of a baseball game Friday, April 3, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)