Julian Knowle and Philipp Petzschner were warriors all week at the SkiStar Swedish Open and the Austrian-German tandem were rewarded with their first team title on Sunday. Knowle and Petzschner defeated Dutch duo Sander Arends and Matwe Middelkoop 6-2, 3-6, 10-7 on Centre Court in Bastad, notching their fourth straight victory in a Match Tie-break. They prevailed after 70 minutes, converting three of 14 break chances. Competing as a team for the first time, the unseeded titlists split €26,110 in prize money and 250 Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings points. Both ended lengthy ATP World Tour title droughts, notching their first trophies since 2014. "It was an amazing week," said Petzschner. "Coming in, Julian had won in Braunschweig and we just...
Philipp Petzschner gave himself the perfect 33rd birthday present at the Miami Open presented by Itau, teaming up with Alexander Peya to oust BNP Paribas Open champions Raven Klaasen and Rajeev Ram 6-3, 7-5 on Friday. As a reward for defeating the fifth seeds, Petzschner/Peya advance to the second round to face the winners of Dominic Thiem/Nenad Zimonjic and brothers Alexander Zverev/Mischa Zverev. Watch Full Match Replays Daniel Nestor and Brian Baker edged past Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic 6-7(3), 7-6(4), 11-9. They will take on second seeds Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut or the pairing of Dominic Inglot and Florin Mergea in the second round. Marin Cilic overcame disappointment in the singles to partner his countryman Nikola Mektic to...
At this week’s prestigious $150,000 ATP Challenger Tour event in Irving, U.S.A., the elite competitors in the singles draw garnered a lot of attention. A multitude of #NextGenATP players joined a red-hot Nikoloz Basilashvili, Jeremy Chardy and former champions Marcel Granollers, Aljaz Bedene and Lukas Rosol to create one of the strongest fields of the year. But players and fans around the Four Seasons Resort and Sports Club are quick point out that the doubles draw is just as ruthless, with the level of competition akin to an ATP World Tour event. In fact, at No. 134 in the Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings it boasts the highest cut at any Challenger since 2010. Former Top 10 stalwarts Leander Paes, Rohan...
