ATP TENNIS NEWS – THE DOUBLES RACE – KONTINEN & PEERS IMPROVING WORLD TOUR FINALS CHANCES WITH PLAY AT SHANGHAI MASTERS, RACE CLOSE FOR MAX MIRNYI & TREAT HUEY

Written by: Staff on 13th October 2016

ATP TENNIS NEWS - THE DOUBLES RACE - KONTINEN & PEERS IMPROVING WORLD TOUR FINALS CHANCES WITH PLAY AT SHANGHAI MASTERS, RACE CLOSE FOR MAX MIRNYI & TREAT HUEY |

Photo by @lindsayhu0807 via Instagram.

By Ricky Dimon

Already inside the cut line at No. 8 in the race to the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, Henri Kontinen and John Peers are improving their status with a strong showing at the Shanghai Rolex Masters. Kontinen and Peers are through to the quarterfinals of the 1000-point event thanks to victories over Alexander Zverev and Philipp Petzschner (6-2, 6-3) and the eighth-seeded duo of Robert Lindstedt and Vasek Pospisil (6-7(5), 6-1, 10-7).

The 180 points for a quarterfinal berth take Kontinen and Peers from a total of 2,710 to 2,890. They will be ahead of defending London champions Jean-Julien Roger and Horia Tecau, currently in the No. 9 position, by at least 210 points next Monday.

Marcel Granollers and Pablo Cuevas, however, could throw a wrench into the equation. They are also in the Shanghai quarters and could face Kontinen and Peers in the semis. Granollers and Cuevas are going up against Marin Cilic and Mate Pavic on Friday, while Kontinen and Peers will run into the top-seeded team of Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares. Murray and Soares will be No. 1 in the 2016 race if they win their next match.

On the other side of the draw, an all-American semifinal showdown is in the cards. Bob and Mike Bryan, who have already clinched a spot in London, will meet John Isner and Jack Sock. Sock is also through to the quarterfinals in singles following a three-set upset of Milos Raonic.

Isner and Sock ousted Max Mirnyi and Treat Huey in the second round, leaving the Mirnyi-Huey London bid on hold. They will be passed by Kontinen and Peers at No. 7 in the race if Kontinen and Peers reach the final. Granollers and Cuevas would pull within 65 points of Mirnyi and Huey if they capture the title.

Top 8 with current Shanghai points included

1. Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut: 7,075 points.

2. Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares: 7,070 points.

3. Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan: 6,070 points.

4. Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez: 4,170 points.

5. Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo: 4,130 points.

6. Raven Klaasen and Rajeev Ram: 3,610 points.

7. Treat Huey and Max Mirnyi: 3,075 points.

8. Henri Kontinen and John Peers: 2,890 points.

Next 4

9. Jean-Julien Roger and Horia Tecau: 2,680 points.

10. Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah: 2,320.