The Australian Open doubles competition is heating up as the tournament enters the second week. Among those players still alive in multiple doubles disciplines is American Taylor Townsend who has advanced to the quarterfinals in both women’s and mixed doubles.
Townsend, with partner Katerina Siniakova, are the reigning Australian Open doubles champions. The pair had not played together in 2026 until they arrived in Melbourne but picked up where they left off in 2025.
Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend pic.twitter.com/SAHV4OsIOt
— Ken McKinnon (@mckinnon88877) January 25, 2026
Siniakova and Townsend are in mixed doubles and could potentially face each other in the semifinals if both teams’ continue to advance.
Townsend is partnering with Croatian Nikola Mektic in mixed doubles. She is a former mixed doubles finalist in the 2024 US Open with Donald Young.
Siniakova is partnering with Sem Verbeek with whom she won her maiden mixed doubles Grand Slam with in 2025 at Wimbledon.
It is not unheard of in recent years for a player to win both doubles and mixed doubles. Sara Errani completed the feat in 2025 at the French Open with Jasmine Paolini and Andrea Vavassori.
The beauty of doubles is that it extends players’ careers. Townsend and Siniakova are both 29. Errani, eliminated in both doubles and mixed doubles in the early rounds of the 2026 Australian Open, is 38. Remaining in the doubles draw is also Su-wei Hsieh, eliminated in the first round of mixed doubles but in women’s doubles with Jelena Ostapenko. Hsieh turned 40 earlier this month.
Australian Open Mixed Doubles Headliners
The improbable team of Nick Kyrgios and Leylah Fernandez has captured fans attention. The pair won its first round match.
There are also perennial Australian teams in the mix. Reigning Australian Open champion and hometown favorites Olivia Gadecki and John Peers are still in the draw, and Maya Joint and Matthew Romios could be in a collision course with Gadecki and Peers in the third round, if they win their second round match. Aussie fans will be beside themselves and have divided loyalties with two all-Aussie teams competing against each other.
