Mahut/Pospisil Capture Rotterdam Crown
Nicolas Mahut and Vasek Pospisil captured their first ATP World Tour doubles title together on Sunday as they defeated Philipp Petzschner and Alexander Peya 7-6(2), 6-4 in the final of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament.
The French/Canadian duo prevailed at the ATP World Tour 500 indoor hard-court tournament in 79 minutes over Petzschner and Peya, who had knocked out top seeds and defending champions Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau in the semi-finals. After being thwarted on their first four break points, Mahut and Pospisil converted their fifth opportunity in the ninth game of the second set before serving out victory.
“We played a really good match,” said Pospisil. “We didn’t make any mistakes and we didn’t give them too many looks on our service games, which was key. We were serving well and putting a lot of pressure on them. Obviously, it helps to have a great partner so I think I got lucky there as well this week! We’re thrilled we got the win today.”
Playing together for just the second time after a first-round exit in Rotterdam last year, Mahut and Pospisil had saved one match point in a close semi-final win over Henri Kontinen and John Peers.
The 34-year-old Mahut captured his 11th tour-level doubles title. It is his second victory in Rotterdam, having lifted the trophy in 2014 with countryman Michael Llodra. Last year, Mahut claimed his first Grand Slam title at the US Open alongside Pierre-Hugues Herbert before the French duo made their debut at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.
“It’s my second 500 title and my second time here, so I think it’s a great tournament for me,” said Mahut. “I’m really proud of the week and I’m really happy to share it with Vasek, he’s a really good guy. We were a little bit disappointed last year to lose in the first round. This year we tried again and we’re really happy to hold the trophy.”
The 25-year-old Pospisil won his sixth ATP World Tour doubles crown. Four of his six titles have come alongside regular partner, Jack Sock, with whom he won the 2014 Wimbledon trophy.
Petzschner and Peya finished runners-up for the second time this season, having also lost in the Doha final in the first week of the season (l. to F. Lopez/ M. Lopez).
( Courtesy of the ATP And Original Link – http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/mahut-pospisil-rotterdam-2016-doubles-final )
Cabal/Farah Race To Buenos Aires Title
Top seeds Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah wasted no time in capturing their first ATP World Tour doubles title of the year, downing Inigo Cervantes and Paolo Lorenzi 6-3, 6-0 in exactly one hour in the Argentina Open final on Sunday. It was Cabal/Farah’s fifth tour-level title in 13 final appearances.
After surviving Match Tie-breaks in the quarter-finals and in the semi-finals, Cabal/Farah thrived in key moments during the final, saving all five break points faced while converting four of five break points on their opponents’ serve. The champions finished with four aces and landed 69 per cent of first serves.
Cervantes and Lorenzi were playing in their second tournament as a team. The Spaniard and the Italian partnered up last week in Quito and lost in the first round to Thomaz Bellucci and Marcelo Demoliner. It was Cervantes’ first ATP World Tour doubles final, while Lorenzi drops to 1-2 in final appearances (title at Vina del Mar 2013 with Starace).
Cabal/Farah earned 250 Emirates ATP Rankings points and will split $28,290, while Cervantes and Lorenzi took home 150 points and $14,870.
( Courtesy of the ATP and Original Link – http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/cabal-farah-win-buenos-aires-doubles-title)
Topics: 10sballs.com, Abn Amro World Tennis Tournament, Alexander Peya, Argentina Open, Atp, Buenos Aires, Men's doubles, Nicolas Mahut, Philipp Petzschner, Rotterdam, Sports, Tennis, Vasek Pospisil