TENNIS DOUBLES RESULTS – CABAL AND FARAH WIN MOSCOW TITLE, TURN HEAT UP IN RACE TO BARCLAYS ATP WORLD TOUR FINALS IN LONDON

Written by: Staff on 24th October 2016

TENNIS DOUBLES RESULTS - CABAL AND FARAH WIN MOSCOW TITLE, TURN HEAT UP IN RACE TO BARCLAYS ATP WORLD TOUR FINALS IN LONDON

epa05599274 Juan Sebastian Cabal (R) and Robert Farah of Colombia pose with their trophies after winning against Julian Knowle and Jurgen Melzer of Austria in the men's doubles final match for the Kremlin Cup tennis tournament in Moscow, Russia, 23 October 2016. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY |

By Ricky Dimon

Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah captured the Kremlin Cup doubles title on Sunday afternoon, when they defeated Julian Knowle and Jurgen Melzer 7-5, 4-6, 10-5. With 250 points added to their total, Cabal and Farah remain in ninth place in the race to the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals–but they are now within 110 points of the No. 9 spot and within 500 points of all-important eighth place.

The Colombian duo stole the first set after Knowle and Melzer failed to serve it out at 5-4. Cabal and Farah then fought back from 5-1 down in the second to reach 4-5, but the Austrians finally got across the line to force a super-tiebreaker. Although Knowle and Melzer briefly maintained momentum by taking a 3-0 lead, Cabal and Farah reeled off 10 of the match’s last 12 points.

This marks the fourth title of the season for Cabal and Farah, while Knowle and Melzer were playing together for the first time in three years due mostly to Melzer’s shoulder problems.

“It’s very special to win our first indoor title,” Cabal assured. “We (had) never won more than one match at an indoor tournament. We felt very supported out there. We felt [the fans] were cheering for a high-quality tennis match, and that’s what they got.”

Juan Sebastian Cabal (L) and Robert Farah of Colombia in action against Julian Knowle and Jurgen Melzer of Austria during their men’s doubles final match at the Kremlin Cup tennis tournament in Moscow, Russia, 23 October 2016. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY

What tennis fans also have is a real race on their hands. Max Mirnyi and Treat Huey are still in position to qualify for London at No. 8, but their advantage over Cabal and Farah has dwindled to 495 points.

Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau, the defending London champions and current first alternates, have 2,680 points to the 2,570 of Cabal and Farah.

“Of course we’ve been thinking about this,” Farah commented. “We are in the race and very close. But what’s most important at the moment is winning this title and what it represents. We are very happy to have one more title in our pocket.”

Top 8

1. Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut: 7,075 points. This week: not playing.

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

3. Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan: 6,070 points. This week: Vienna.

4. Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez: 4,170 points. This week: Vienna.

5. Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo: 4,130 points. This week: not playing.

6. Raven Klaasen and Rajeev Ram: 3,600 points. This week: Basel.

7. Henri Kontinen and John Peers: 3,310 points. This week: Basel.

8. Treat Huey and Max Mirnyi: 3,065 points. This week: Basel.

Next 4

9. Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau: 2,680 points. This week: Basel.

10. Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah: 2,570. This week: Basel.