Ageless Wonder Hsieh and Mertens Team up for Aussie Open Doubles Crown

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday January 27, 2024

When Hsieh Su-Wei made her return to tennis after an 18-month hiatus last spring, the former World No.1, however decorated, probably would have had trouble imagine the success that she’d have in her first four majors played.

Less than a year later the 38-year-old has added three major doubles title to her trophy case as well as her first career mixed doubles crown at a Slam.

Hsieh took home two titles this weekend in Melbourne, winning the mixed title with Jan Zielinski (d. Krawczyk and N. Skupski) 6-7(5), 6-4, 11-9), before pairing with former partner Elise Mertens to snag her seventh major doubles title, 6-1, 7-5 over Lydia Kichenok and Jelena Ostapenko.

🏆 in sync 🏆#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/qdArd3L5qj

— wta (@WTA) January 28, 2024

Hsieh became the first woman to win the Australian Open mixed doubles and women’s doubles crown in the same year since Rennae Stubbs in 2000. She also became the second oldest women’s doubles champion to win a Grand Slam doubles title.

Hsieh has now paired with Mertens for two Slam titles – they won the title together at Wimbledon in 2021 as well.

Former World No.1 Hsieh has now won 33 doubles titles, including two at Roland-Garros and four at Wimbledon.

Hsieh Su-wei is the first player to win a double delight since Rennae Stubbs in 2000 🔥

Mixed Doubles 🏆
Women’s Doubles 🏆#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/R2Yp85YgR2

— ITF (@ITFTennis) January 28, 2024

Remarkably, she has won all four of her Slam titles since her comeback began with different partners. She won Roland-Garros with Wang Xinyu and captured her fourth Wimbledon title with Barbora Strycova.

“It’s incredible, because I was not expecting anything, and I just try to come back to enjoy,” Hsieh said. “So for the first two Grand Slam, like Roland Garros or Wimbledon, I was not even nervous on the court in the finals. So I know this is gonna get into the head of the girls, because I was a little bit smiling on the court.”

Mertens has now won two Australian Open titles to go with one at the US Open and her other title with Hsieh, at Wimbledon in 2021. She will return to No.1 in the WTA rankings on Monday.

“Very happy to be back on Su-Wei’s side. It’s amazing to play with her, so much experience and still so much motivation too. I feel like we really are a team,” she said.