In an era where the average age in women's tennis is climbing, and three of the four US Open singles semifinalists were over the age of 30, 17-year-old Ashleigh Barty has found immense success on the doubles court in 2013 with 28-year-old Casey Dellacqua by her side. Having teamed up for the first time in Brisbane last year, Barty and Dellacqua's 2013 has been a revelation. Although the Australian duo have played just five events together this year, including the four majors, they have achieved immense results.

They started their run as a wildcard team at the Australian Open, where they upset two seeded teams en route to the final. After a first-round loss at Roland Garros, the only blip on their year so far, they won the only non-major that they have contested at the Wimbledon tuneup in Birmingham. The 12th-seeded team in London, they again reached the final, upsetting the No. 2 and No. 7 seeds along the way.

An unknown quantity little more than 12 months ago, the gulf in experience between them and much of their opposition has not seemed to bother Barty and Dellacqua. In fact, the team possesses many of the characteristics that have driven some of the greatest doubles team to success. A common sight, seen with Bob and Mike Bryan or Pam Shriver and Martina Navratilova, is to pair together one right-handed player and one left-handed player. Barty plays from the right and Dellacqua from the left.

While neither possesses immense firepower, height or physical strength, their individual weaknesses that can be exploited in singles are less pronounced in doubles. Dellacqua, whose singles career has been compromised by multiple injuries and surgeries, now finds consistency a challenge in solo play as her career reaches its later stages. On the other side, the teenaged Barty has been anointed as one to watch since winning the junior Wimbledon event at 15. She has struggled in the transition to the main Tour, for many of her peers possess a greater physical presence.

The strengths of the pair, which include quick hands on the volley, anticipation and the ability to use the entire court, are the hallmarks of a solid doubles foundation. Some of the greatest doubles players have come from Down Under, and Barty and Dellacqua grew up learning the nuances of the doubles craft. Barty's all-court game pairs nicely with Dellacqua's experience on the big stage. She has tasted major glory before, having triumphed in mixed doubles at Roland Garros in 2011 with Scott Lipsky.

With a few notable exceptions, the greatest singles players are often not the greatest doubles players. This is perhaps because the greatest assets in doubles are effective communication and team chemistry, and singles players are taught from a young age to be incredibly self-reliant. While doubles specialists may occasionally be overwhelmed by a pairing of two strong singles players, experience and familiarity with a partner's strengths are often a deciding factor in crunch time. Neither Barty nor Dellacqua take themselves too seriously on court, and they often couple a cheerful and positive attitude with their desire to win.

Despite the synergy of Barty's youthful exuberance and Dellacqua's veteran leadership, the duo fell short in their bids for a first major title at the Australian Open, where they lost a three-set final to Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci, and Wimbledon, where they were bested by Peng Shuai and Hsieh Su-wei.

On Saturday, the Australians will have another chance at their maiden slam title when they face off against Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka, who pulled off what many considered to be an upset of Serena and Venus Williams in Friday's semifinal. The Czechs, despite being seeded No. 5, were 0-5 in meetings against the unseeded sisters, having dropped the last four in straight sets.

The Czechs have made a career out of chemistry, but aside from a title at Roland Garros in 2011, also have played the bridesmaids in the biggest moments. The pair fell in the gold-medal match at the Olympics to the Williams sisters, were runners-up to Errani and Vinci at the US Open a year ago and fell in the final of the WTA Championships to Maria Kirilenko and Nadia Petrova.

In less then a year, Barty and Dellacqua have gone from Cinderellas to contenders. Their success has allowed Dellacqua to prolong her career and Barty to jumpstart hers. They have shown the game to win, and on Saturday the third time may be the charm.