Brian Baker and Nikola Mektic picked up their first ATP World Tour titles on Sunday at the Memphis Open, defeating Americans Ryan Harrison and Steve Johnson 6-3, 6-4. “You’re going to be super pumped anytime you can win an ATP title, but to win one so close to home is really special,” said Baker. “Nikola and I have had instant chemistry so far, so hopefully we can keep it going.” The American-Croatian duo scored an immediate break of serve in their opening return game and rode that momentum to the opening set. Harrison/Johnson fought valiantly from 1-3 down in the second set to even the score at 3-3, but Baker/Mektic secured another break at 4-4 and converted on their first...
James Cerretani and Philipp Oswald picked up their first ATP World Tour title as a team on Saturday at the Ecuador Open in Quito, prevailing over second seeds Julio Peralta/Horacio Zeballos 6-3, 2-1, after Zeballos was forced to retire with a neck injury. “We’re very happy with the win here, but we feel bad for our opponents. They were a little injured and that’s not the way you’d like to win a match,” said Cerretani. “The event here in Quito was world-class, though, and the people and the organisation were very friendly in every way.” Cerretani/Oswald grabbed the lone break of serve in the opening game of the match and held their slight advantage through the opening set. Both teams...
John Peers ended his home country's Australian Open title drought, as he and Henri Kontinen ousted six-time champions Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan 7-5, 7-5 on Saturday at Melbourne Park The reigning ATP Finals champions took the inside track in returning to The O2 in London, claiming their first Grand Slam title together and improving to an impressive 6-1 in tour-level finals. They dropped just one set en route to the title, edging the Bryans behind 12 aces and three breaks of serve after one hour and 14 minutes. For Kontinen, it was his maiden major crown in his first final, while Peers lifted his first trophy in his third title match. He previously finished runner-up alongside Jamie Murray at...
The men’s doubles final on Saturday at the Australian Open features third seeds Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan looking for another title in Melbourne, while fourth seeds and reigning ATP Finals champions Henri Kontinen/John Peers seek their first Grand Slam title. Kontinen/Peers lead their FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry over the Bryans 2-0, with both straight-sets victories coming this past November at the Paris Masters and ATP Finals. The Finnish-Australian pair are arguably the most in-form doubles team at the moment, having won 15 of their past 16 matches dating back to Paris. However, the Bryans have far more experience in Grand Slam championship matches. They are contesting their 30th Grand Slam final together (16-13), while Peers is playing his third and Kontinen...