In an epic late-night men’s doubles final, Finnish champion Harri Heliovaara and British duo Henry Patten claimed the Australian Open title on Saturday.
The sixth seeds lost a mammoth first set lasting 87 minutes before pulling through 6-7 (16/18), 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 against Italian third seeds Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori.
The first-set tiebreak alone went on for 24 minutes, with the match lasting more than three hours and concluding at nearly 2: 00 am.
Harri Heliovaara (R) of Finland celebrates as Henry Patten (L) shakes hands with the umpire following their victory over Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori in the men’s doubles final match on day fourteen of the Australian Open tennis competition in Melbourne on January 26, 2025. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP)On day fourteen of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 26, 2025, Italy’s Andrea Vavassori and Italy’s Simone Bolelli battle it out against Finland’s Harri Heliovaara and Britain’s Henry Patten. IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE (Photo by DAVID GRAY/AFP) —
The Italian duo, who have now lost two Melbourne finals in a row and were also eliminated in last year’s French Open title decider, suffered another agonizing near miss.
The men’s singles and women’s doubles titles will be decided on Sunday, the 15th and final day of the tournament.
Harri Heliovaara (L) and Henry Patten (L) of Finland celebrate with the trophy after falling to Andrea Vavassori and Simone Bolelli from Italy in the men’s doubles final in Melbourne on January 26, 2025. (Photo by WILLIAM WEST / AFP)
Leave a Reply