Bolelli and Vavassori lost last year’s final at Melbourne Park to India’s Rohan Bopanna and Australia’s Matthew Ebden, and also lost the French Open final.
The doubles combination was trying to set up a big weekend for Italian tennis, with top-ranked Jannik Sinner of Italy aiming to defend his singles title against No. 2 Alexander Zverev on Sunday.
“Tough final—one of the best I’ve played,” Bolelli said as the presentation ceremony stretched toward 2 a.m. Sunday local time. “We tried this year, another final. We played a really good tournament. We didn’t get the trophy, but we’re going to come back next year and try again.”
Patten acknowledged Heliovaara, the 2007 Australian Open boys doubles champion, for helping to complete another Grand Slam win, and the crowd for helping to keep them both motivated.
“Bloody hell, what an evening! Thanks to everyone who stayed,” he told the crowd at Rod Laver Arena in the early hours of Sunday. “You guys are a little bit crazy, but I love you for it.”
