Two years ago, Raven Klaasen and partner Eric Butorac stunned six-time champions Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan in the Australian Open third round. Lightning has struck twice for the South African, scoring another upset of the American twins 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 alongside Rajeev Ram on Monday. It marked the third straight year the Bryans have lost in the third round in Melbourne.
Klaasen, who would reach the final down under in 2014, and Ram set a quarter-final clash against seventh seeds Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares. Murray and Soares downed Dominic Inglot and Robert Lindstedt 6-3, 6-4 in 77 minutes. The Brit and the Brazilian fired 21 winners and just five unforced errors, turning aside both break points faced. Murray continues his quest to reach a third consecutive Grand Slam final, having teamed with John Peers for Wimbledon and US Open runner-up finishes last year.
“It was another great match from us,” Soares told ATPWorldTour.com. “Jamie and I played solid, especially on our serves, which was a very important part of the game today, against two of the best servers. It was really tough to break them. They didn’t give us many opportunities and we had to focus. We were able to play well on the small opportunities we had. Overall, it was very solid and we’re happy with the win.”
In other action, Frenchmen Adrian Mannarino and Lucas Pouille beat Colombians Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah 6-3, 7-6(6) in 75 minutes. They converted on one of two break points, while saving all four faced. It has been a breakthrough week on the doubles court for Mannarino and Pouille, with neither previously advancing past the second round of a Grand Slam. They dethroned defending champions and fifth seeds Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini earlier in the tournament.
The all-French tandem will tangle with top seeds Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau in the quarter-finals. The reigning Wimbledon champions dispatched Italians Marco Cecchinato and Andreas Seppi 7-6(0), 6-3.
( Courtesy of the ATP and Original Link – http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/bryans-fall-to-ram-klaasen-australian-open-2016 )
Topics: 10sballs.com, 2016 Australian Open, Atp World Tour, Bruno Soares, Bryan Brothers, Doubles tennis, Jamie Murray, Melbourne, Rajeev Ram, Raven Klaasen, Sports, Tennis