Jeremy Chardy and Fabrice Martin have claimed the first ATP World Tour title of 2017. The Frenchmen dismissed third seeds Vasek Pospisil and Radek Stepanek 6-4, 7-6(3) in the Qatar ExxonMobil Open doubles final on Friday to celebrate their first team doubles title.
Their familarity with each other certainly paid off this week. Chardy and Martin have known each other since they were eight years old and have played together in the past, including last year at ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami. They reached the quarter-finals at both events.
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“We knew we could beat some good teams,” Martin said. “For me, especially to win with Jeremy, it's the best win I can imagine. I want to thank him.”
The win gives the 30-year-old Martin three career ATP World Tour doubles titles. Chardy now has four ATP World Tour doubles crowns.
The two will receive 250 Emirates ATP Rankings points and split $67,140 in prize money. Pospisil and Stepanek, who were going for their first team doubles title, will receive 150 Emirates ATP Rankings points and split $35,300 in prize money.