Jason Kubler and Rinky Hijikata have ensured an Australian Open trophy remains in home hands by storming to a shock straight-sets win in the men's doubles final.
With singles champion Ash Barty retiring and Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis unable to defend their 2022 doubles crown due to injury, Kubler and Hijikata have flown the flag.
They beat Monaco's Hugo Nys and Poland's Jan Zieliński 6-4, 7-6 (4) in Saturday night's decider at Melbourne Park.
The men's final didn't get started on Rod Laver Arena until after 11pm, after fifth seed Aryna Sabalenka fought back to beat Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in three sets in a thrilling women's singles decider earlier in the evening.
But plenty of local fans stuck around at Melbourne Park to watch the unlikely victory.
Playing together for the first time, the local wildcards cut a swathe through the draw to make the championship match, knocking off three top 10 seeds including top-ranked Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski in the quarter-finals.
"Rinky and I definitely didn't think this was happening two weeks ago," Kubler said.
"It's definitely a pleasant surprise."
They are the fifth unseeded pair to win the Australian Open doubles title.
Nys and Zielinski were also playing in their maiden grand slam final and only linked as a pair last March.
However, they won the Metz trophy last season and reached the US Open quarter finals.
Showing no signs of nerves, the Australians broke Zieliński's serve to love early in the opening set.
Kubler himself served well throughout while Hijikata — at 21 eight years younger than his partner — was outstanding at the net.
They outplayed their opponents from the back of the court to fire up their fans.
Kubler stormed through his serve to level at 6-6 in the second set, sending it to a tiebreak.
The former world number one junior, Kubler sent down a searing forehand to edge ahead 5-4 and with three championship points won the title through an error after a chaotic final point.
No all-Australian pairing since the legendary Woodies — Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde — had won the Open men's doubles in a quarter of a century until last year.
Now Kubler and Hijikata have repeated the wildcard heroics of the 'Special Ks', Kyrgios and Kokkinakis.
Australians own two of the four men's grand slam doubles trophies.
After losing last year's Australian Open final to Kyrgios and Kokkinakis, Max Purcell and Matt Ebden won Wimbledon six months later.
Look back on how all the action unfolded in our live blog.
Key events
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Live updates
Thanks for joining us
By Simon Smale
Well, that turned into quite a late one, didn't it.
Thanks for being a part of our coverage, I hope you enjoyed it and myself and Paul Johnson will be back for the men's final tomorrow.
We'll leave you with Australia's newest grand slam winners.
'It's unreal': Rinky Hijikata
By Simon Smale
Here's Rinky Hijikata.
"It's been an absolute rollercoaster," he says.
You can say that again.
His sister has flown over from the States for this, which is cool
"The Bryan brothers presenting the trophy, that's pretty cool," he says.
Again, not wrong.
"Lastly and most importantly, thank you to Kubes for playing with me.
"I couldn't ever have imagined this, but thanks so much for saying yes to playing with me a couple of months ago.
"It's unreal."
He also thanks his opponents.
"I just wanna congratulate you two. You are an unbelievable pair. All the best for the season. I'm sure you're going to have a massive year.
Very humble winners, you love to see it
By Simon Smale
OutbloodyStanding! What a beautiful victory! So proud of them!!
- Linda Rogers
'Definitely a pleasant surprise': Jason Kubler
By Simon Smale
Let's hear from Jason Kubler.
"I don't know what to say," Kuber says.
"Rinky and I definitely didn't think this was happening two weeks ago.
"Definitely a pleasant surprise."
He congratulates his opponents on a superb start to the season.
"I've got to thank Rinky," he adds.
"He's the reason we teamed up. I wasn't sure I was going to play. Two weeks later, we're lifting this trophy.
"He's got a great future ahead of him."
'Playing Australians in Australia is always tough': Jan Zieliński
By Simon Smale
Jan Zieliński is speaking.
"If someone told me two weeks ago that I'd be speaking after the final I would take it," he says.
"It hurts now but congratulations.
"Playing Australians in Australia is always tough.
"It's an unbelievable story so congrats."
Ah, it's his fiancee's birthday today! Or was it yesterday? I'm not sure what day it is any more to be honest.
Hugo Nys is emotional as he talks about his grandfather, but also congratulates his partner and the winning pair.
"My grandfather played in the 50s and he died in 2017 and I wanted to do it for him ... next time I guess," a teary Nys said.
"Congratulation to Rinky and Jason - maybe you should think about playing doubles through the year."
Speaking of which...
Kubler/Hijikata win the Australian Open doubles!
By Simon Smale
Australian women's player Maddy Inglis, and Jason Kubler's partner, nearly got knocked out in the players box as the celebrations began after that match finished in the most extraordinary way imaginable.
What a rally, some incredible shots and yet it's the Australian wildcards who have won out, 6-4, 7-6 (4).
They are the fifth unseeded team to win the men's doubles title at the Australian Open.
Second set tie break
By Simon Smale
OK, here we go.
Solid serve.
Kubler/Hijikata 0-1* Nys/Zieliński
Solid serve from Hijikata and the return is netted.
Kubler/Hijikata *1-1 Nys/Zieliński
Brilliant volley from Kubler despite from excellent retrieval by Nys on a number of occasions, but a cute volley just gets Australia the point!
Kubler/Hijikata *2-1 Nys/Zieliński
Kubler with the leave and that's superb! A mini break for the Aussies!
Kubler/Hijikata 3-1* Nys/Zieliński
Oh Kubler had the middle of the court at his mercy but sends his shot long!
Kubler/Hijikata 3-2* Nys/Zieliński
Good serve from Kubler down the middle, the return sails long.
Kubler/Hijikata *4-2 Nys/Zieliński
Backhand by Nys forces Hijikata at the net to send his shot long.
Minibreak back.
Kubler/Hijikata *4-3 Nys/Zieliński
Well played at the net by Nys to land a volley and smash it into the stands.
Kubler/Hijikata 4-4* Nys/Zieliński
OH WHAT A SHOT! A forehand return into the tramlines and everyone is up for that!
Kubler/Hijikata 5-4* Nys/Zieliński
Zieliński finds the net!
Kubler/Hijikata *6-4 Nys/Zieliński
Hijikata serving for the championship.
The best rally of the match!
Kubler/Hijikata win!
Kubler*/Hijikata 5-6 Nys/Zieliński
By Simon Smale
Pressure on Kubler.
Hijikata just brings his racquet down as a cross-court shot from Nys flies long. 15-0.
Another shot goes long, 30-0.
Nys with the backhand straight into the net, 40-0.
And now Zieliński can't get his return back to the net.
Into the tie breaker we go.
Kubler/Hijikata 5-5 Nys*/Zieliński
By Simon Smale
The seagulls, most of whom have gone to bed, have still managed to muster enough energy to leave a deposit on the court. It's cleared up by a hardy ball kid.
Exciting point but the Aussies send it long and the Polish/Monegasque pairing celebrate. 15-0.
Hijikata misses down the line, 30-0.
Ace from Nys! 40-0.
Kubler misses at the net to give the Polish/Monegasque pairing the game - their easiest service hold of the match to love.
Kubler/Hijikata* 4-5 Nys/Zieliński
By Simon Smale
"Rinky, Rinky, Rinky," chants the crowd as Hijikata gets the first point off his serve.
Nys unloads with the forehand but he missed his lines a little, a bit of a let off there though for the Aussies. 30-0.
Big scream from Hijikata as he nails another first serve and gets another point.
Lovely return off the backhand by Zieliński, two-handed backhand down the line and Hijikata can't get it back.
Ace! Brilliant from Hijikata to ice the game.
Kubler/Hijikata 4-4 Nys/Zieliński*
By Simon Smale
Solid first up from Zieliński, 15-0.
Zieliński just scoops the two-handed backhand wide as the Aussies just pile more pressure on, that time it was Hijikata with the cross court shots.
Hijikata gets the crowd on their feet! Once, twice, three times Hijikata hammered a groundstroke at Nys, who defended twice and then was passed. Hijikata cups his ear and revs up the crowd. 15-30.
Good serve from Zieliński, 30-30.
What a second serve, high risk, high reward from Zieliński, who roars as Kubler swipes at the ground in frustration.
Zieliński holds his serve again and they are now within one of forcing a decider, the Aussies need to hold to keep things going in the second.
Kubler*/Hijikata 3-4 Nys/Zieliński
By Simon Smale
Zieliński is up first and geeing up Nys, "come on, come on, come on," he cries before slapping the Monegasque's hand enthusiastically.
Good serve from Kubler. 15-0.
Kubler as a couple of smashes, plays a great cross-court shot from the baseline to let Hijikata play a sublime volley at the net for the winner 30-0.
Two more great serves and Hijikata bounces back to his older teammate as they level the scores at 4-4.
Kubler/Hijikata 3-3 Nys*/Zieliński
By Simon Smale
Brilliant volley by Nys to make the angle so hard for Kubler, whose next effort was easily smashed away for the winner. 15-0.
"YES MATE," rings out as cleanly from the mouth of Hijikata as that winner came off his racquet. Amazing shot from Hijikata. 15-15.
Nys gets a solid serve in and wins the point.
Another good serve out wide and Zieliński puts the winner away.
It is now past midnight in Melbourne.
Ace down the middle from Nys to win the game and just edge ahead once more in this second serve.
Kubler/Hijikata* 2-3 Nys/Zieliński
By Simon Smale
Nys opens up with the forehand on a Hijikata second serve, but finds the net. 15-0.
Body serve from Hijikata on second serve and it forces Zieliński to defend himself and fend the ball away and out. 30-0.
Solid from Hijikata, attacking that Nys backhand and he gets the reward. 40-0.
Hijikata misses with his follow up shot, 40-15.
Solid serve out wide and Nys can't get the return in to hand the wgame to the Aussies.
Kubler/Hijikata 2-2 Nys/Zieliński*
By Simon Smale
Kubler finds the net with a very gettable forehand when the Aussies were looking dangerous at the net. 15-0.
What a shot from Hijikata! "YES MATE!" calls out Hijikata as the ball flies past his opponent. Great return, fully unleashed on that two-handed backhand.
Zieliński finds the net with a forehand volley and that's a little opening devloping for the Aussies.
Solid serve out wide by Zieliński to get the unreturnable serve. 30-30.
Another great serve is greeted by a roar from Zieliński.
Hijikata finds the net with a return and that's a good recovery from Zieliński.
Kubler/Hijikata 2-2 Nys/Zieliński*
By Simon Smale
Kubler finds the net with a very gettable forehand when the Aussies were looking dangerous at the net. 15-0.
What a shot from Hijikata! "YES MATE!" calls out Hijikata as the ball flies past his opponent. Great return, fully unleashed on that two-handed backhand.
Zieliński finds the net with a forehand volley and that's a little opening devloping for the Aussies.
Solid serve out wide by Zieliński to get the unreturnable serve.
Kubler*/Hijikata 1-2 Nys/Zieliński
By Simon Smale
Solid smash from Hijikata at the net after Kubler's solid serve. 15-0.
Great work at the net from Hijikata! "YES MATE" he calls as he deflects the ball with minimal time to do so between his opponents from at the net. Excellent reflexes.
Great return from Nys, who slams a forehand return. Perhaps keep probing that ineffective backhand when serving to Nys.
Another excellent pickup at the net by Hijikata, forces Nys into hitting the net with his follow up. 40-15.
"YES MATE!" screams Hijikata as Nys can't find his backhand return, and the crowd respond in kind.
