Robin Haase and Matwe Middelkoop are doubles champions once again this season, claiming a 5-7, 6-4, 10-4 victory over Nikola Mektic and Alexander Peya at the DIEMA XTRA Sofia Open.
The Dutchmen, who earlier this season claimed their first title together in Pune (d. Herbert/Simon), overcame their opponents in just one hour, 13 minutes. Despite winning the same amount of total points as Mektic and Peya, Haase and Middelkoop were better in the bigger moments, saving seven of nine break points faced and converting on two of five break points themselves.
"Of course it doesn't happen often that you win titles, especially in the same city," said Middelkoop, the 2016 champion with Wesley Koolhof. "Sofia is a special one and I feel comfortable and at home here. My partner played amazing."
[ALSO LIKE]
For Haase, the title in Sofia marks his fourth ATP World Tour doubles championship; for Middelkoop, his sixth. Last season, the team reached the quarter-finals of the US Open doubles tournament, which was the first Grand Slam event in their partnership.
The Dutchmen now head to their home tournament in Rotterdam as wild cards, where they will look to continue their winning form as they take on fellow wild cards Jasper Smit and Jesse Timmermans in the first round.
Mektic and Peya will have to wait a little longer to claim their first title as a team, although both have had significant success in earlier partnerships. Peya is a former World No. 3 in the ATP Doubles Rankings, while his Croatian partner claimed his first two ATP World Tour doubles crowns last season.
"We're happy, that's for sure," added Haase. "We started this year with a title and already in four tournaments we have another. I hope we continue like this. I'm happy that we won."