While it’s not the title home tennis fans expected, Luke Saville and Max Purcell can create their own piece of history if they can lift the Australian Open trophy at Melbourne Park.
World No.1 Ashleigh Barty looked the most likely chance to hold aloft silverware on Rod Laver Arena but Saville and Purcell can do just that in the men’s doubles title decider against American Rajeev Ram and Brit Joe Salisbury on Sunday night.
They will be able to claim the record of the first all-Australian pairing in 23 years to win the grand slam title, with the last the “Woodies” – Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge – back in 1997.
The pair needed a wildcard to gain entry to the doubles draw, but are riding a 13-match winning streak that goes back to October in Traralgon in country Victoria, when they claimed a challenger title.
Before the tournament, 21-year-old Purcell’s career winnings stood at $293,629 – a figure he could more than double on Sunday.
Purcell and Saville, 26, will split $760,000 if they win the final, or $380,000 if they are runners-up.
The pair, known as the “slugs”, described making the final as a “dream come true”.
Saville said the prize money could make a huge difference to their careers.
“It helps out a lot,” said Saville, who is engaged to injured Australian women’s player Daria Gavrilova.
“It’s expensive to travel with coaches and a fitness trainer where I can as well.
“So that’s not cheap, especially flights and accommodation and what-not.
“This is obviously an enormous pay day for us and we’re going to put it all back into our tennis.”
Importantly, on the back of their strong results they have halved their rankings and both could surpass Davis Cup regular John Peers as Australia’s top-ranked doubles players.