Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis have won their first grand slam title, defeating Max Purcell and Matt Ebden in straight sets in the Australian Open men's doubles final at Rod Laver Arena on Saturday night.
Kyrgios and Kokkinakis surpised throughout the tournament, having not had success as a doubles pairing before, taking the final 7-5 6-4 in one hour and 35 minutes.
After the elation of Ash Barty's Australian Open triumph, the crowd settled in for the encore, with the demand to watch the all-Aussie doubles final unprecedented in the format.
It was even match through the first service games of all four competitors, with all holding their deliveries comfortably with no break points conceded.
The ninth and 10th games on the service of Purcell and Kyrgios both went to deuce, but still neither team could force a break point.
Ebden's serve in the 11th game saw them trail 0-30 after an unfortunate let cord deflection, with Kyrgios and Kokkinakis getting the score to 15-40.
However, both break points were saved with Purcell playing an excellent volley to ward off the first, before Kokkinakis put a forehand drive long for the second.
Purcell again came to the rescue with another volley on a third break point, but a ripping Kokkinakis forehand down the line earned a fourth, with Ebden eventually netting to earn 'Double K' the break.
Kokkinakis served out the set with a love game, as he and Kyrgois clinched the opener 7-5 in 49 minutes.
The second set saw Ebden pull out a magnificent tweener, seen from Kyrgios repeatedly throughout the tournament, as he and Purcell comfortably claimed the first game.
After the first six service games were held, Kyrgios and Kokkinakis again targeted the Ebden serve, breaking it to love, to take a 4-3 lead.
Kokkinakis ran into trouble in the next game on his serve with it going to deuce, but he played a huge forehand to get advantage, before Ebden netted to give the wildcard duo the game.
On Purcell's next serve, the match had to be stopped for a unruly spectator to be evicted after he yelled out during the service action.
After a double fault hiccup and a championship point against his serve, Purcell managed to hold his game, leaving Kyrgios to serve for the grand slam title.
