Just hours after securing his 500th career singles match win, Fernando Verdasco was back on court alongside doubles partner David Marrero at the Mutua Madrid Open on Tuesday.
Verdasco and Marrero, who won the Rio Open presented by Claro in February (d. Mektic/Peya), continued their strong form on clay, squeezing past German brothers Alexander Zverev and Mischa Zverev 6-7(3), 7-6(4), 10-8. The Spaniards saved eight of nine break points in a match featuring just two breaks of serve, holding their nerve to reach the second round.
Verdasco and Marrero will meet fourth seeds Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut for a spot in the quarter-finals.
Alexander Peya, alongside Nikola Mektic, secured his 350th career doubles match win, defeating Kevin Anderson and Max Mirnyi 6-4, 3-6, 10-4.
The Austrian, who turned professional in 1998, is bidding to win his 17th ATP World Tour doubles title in the Spanish capital this week after recently lifting his first team crown with partner Mektic at the Grand Prix Hassan II in April (d. Paire/Roger-Vasselin). Peya and Mektic took 81 minutes to clinch their first-round win, winning all five first-serve points in the decisive Match Tie-break.
Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell champions Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez were unable to repeat their home success in Madrid, as Raven Klaasen and Michael Venus triumphed 3-6, 7-5, 10-8. Klaasen and Venus saved seven of the eight break point opportunities and coverted their only break point chance to level the match at one-set all before edging the Spaniards in the decider.
Italy's Fabio Fognini and Diego Schwartzman of Argentina came from a set down to defeat Florin Mergea and Daniel Nestor 3-6, 6-1, 10-4. Fognini and Schwartzman conceded just four points on serve in the second set to force a Match Tie-break and carried their momentum through into the decider to book their place in the next round.