Australian Open 2026: Britain’s Neal Skupski & Luke Johnson both claim doubles semi-final spots
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British doubles stars Neal Skupski and Luke Johnson will both compete in the Australian Open men’s doubles semi-finals after impressive straight sets victories.
Sixth seeds Skupski and Christian Harrison breezed past Czechia’s Petr Nouza and Patrik Rikl 6-2, 6-3 in their quarter-final match.
Then Johnson and Jan Zielinski of Poland upset fourth seeds and 2024 Roland Garros champions Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic 7-6(2), 6-2.
It’s a landmark win for both players, who are competing at their first Grand Slam tournament with their respective partners.
The Skupski, Harrison partnership seems to be growing with each passing match and produced a high level in their quarter-final against the team who knocked out reigning champions Henry Patten and Harri Heliovaara in the previous round.
The British, American duo broke the Czech side three times and won 85% (28/33) points of first serve to book their place in the semi-finals.
There, they will meet third seeds and last year’s French Open and Wimbledon champions, Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos.
Skupski is aiming to reach his third Grand Slam final in his last four majors. It’s the first time he’s made it to the men’s doubles semi-finals at Melbourne Park.
Johnson is currently on his career-best Grand Slam run alongside former world No.7 and 2023 Australian Open finalist Zielinski.
The British, Polish team rose to the big moments deep into the first set tie-break against the fourth seeds – clinching the decisive mini break at 5-5, to take the set and wrestle all momentum in their favour.
Johnson and Zielinski broke twice in a clean second set to seal the win in an hour and 16 minutes.
Next up, they face the challenging task of taking on Australian home-favourites Jason Kubler and Marc Polmans.
Kubler and Polmans beat 12th seeds Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul in the quarter-finals 6-4, 7-6(3) and will no doubt have the full backing of the home crowd in their next match.
The Australian Open men’s doubles semi-finals are set for the early hours of Thursday morning UK time.
Johnson and Zielinski play Kubler and Polmans in the second match on the Rod Laver Arena, while Skupski and Harrison take on Granollers and Zeballos third on the Margaret Court Arena.
