Elise Mertens has reclaimed the No.1 women's doubles ranking after partnering with Zhang Shuai to storm to the Australian Open title.
After a tough first set, Mertens and China's Zhang overcame some nervous moments to win the final against seventh seeds Anna Danilina and Aleksandra Krunic 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 in one hour 48 minutes.
The pair were cruising to victory at 5-0 up in the second set, before losing four-straight games.
But again serving for the championship, Mertens finished the job to secure a first major title with Zhang after the pair previously lost the 2022 Wimbledon decider.
For Belgium star Mertens it is her sixth major doubles title, taking her back to the top of the rankings she first climbed to in May 2021.
Zhang tasted success at Melbourne Park with Australian great Sam Stosur back in 2019, while also claiming the 2021 US Open.
Stosur was on court to present the trophy to Mertens and Shuai.
It completes a productive fortnight in Australia for Mertens, who reached the fourth round of the women's singles, before being eliminated by eventual finalist Elena Rybakina.
The 30-year-old was "lost for words" when accepting the trophy, thinking back to the second round of the tournament when they saved three match points to progress.
The men's doubles final will be up on Rod Laver Arena later on Saturday, with Australian wildcards Jason Kubler and Marc Polmans looking to take down sixth seeds Christian Harrison and Neal Skupski.
