By Glenys Furness
- Neal Skupski claims maiden Masters title in Madrid
- Fifth Master Final
- Fourth title of the year
MADRID, SPAIN – Neal Skupski & Wesley Koolhof entered the Masters event in Madrid, and were seventh seeds. The Brit/Dutch pair claimed their first Masters title together.
[table “ADPDAll” not found /]
Neal Skupski and Wesley Koolhof entered the Masters event in Madrid. The Brit/Dutch pair were the seventh seeds. In the first round the seeds drew Nikoloz Basilashvili & Alexander Bublik. The first set was tight, as neither side looked to be able to get the break. However, just at the end of the set, the Brit/Dutch pair managed to break and then hold to move ahead. The second set was dominated by the seeds and they eased through into the next round 7-5, 6-2.
The second round saw Skupski & Koolhof against Marc Lopez & Carlos Alcaraz Garfia. The Brit/Dutch pair secured an early break of serve to take the first set. However, the Spaniards re-grouped in the second and broke the seeds to level the match. The match tiebreak set was very close, however it was Skupski & Koolhof who edged through to take a spot in the quarter-final 6-3, 3-6, 10-7.
In the quarter-final the seventh seeds were against Tomislav Brkić & Nikola Ćaćić. Once again the Brit/Dutch pair started well, breaking the serve of the Bosnian/Serbian pair and took the lead. However Brkić & Ćaćić fought back in the second, taking it to a tiebreak. In the breaker the Bosnian/Serbian edged through to level up the match. The final match tiebreak set saw the seeds dominate and book a semi-final spot 6-3, 6-7(8), 10-2.
The semi-final saw Skupski & Koolhof against John Isner & Hubert Hurkacz. As is the way usually with any match involving Isner, the first set went to a tiebreak. As neither side could break through. In the tiebreak the seeds managed to edge through and take the lead. The second set was also very close. Once again it appeared to be heading to a tiebreak, however, the Brit/Dutch pair managed to secure a break of serve at the end and take the spot in the final 7-6(9), 7-5.
In the final the seventh seeds were against the second seed Robert Farah & Juan Sebastian Cabal. The second seeds went toe to toe with Skupski & Koolhof and forced a tiebreak in the first set. The Colombians got ahead in the breaker and took the lead. In the second set the Brit/Dutch pair managed to break serve of the Colombians and level up the match. A tense match tiebreak followed. However, Skuspki & Koolhof managed to get ahead and stay there, to claim their fourth title of the year and their maiden Masters title 6-7(4), 6-4, 10-5.
Doubles Round Up
Joe Salisbury with Rajeev Ram were defeated by Andreas Mies & Kevin Krawietz in the second round in Madrid 6-4, 6-4.
Cameron Norrie with Tommy Paul were defeated by Jamie Murray & Michael Venus in the second round in Rome 6-4, 6-3.
Jamie Murray with Michael Venus were defeated by Robert Farah & Juan Sebastian Cabal in the semi-final in Rome 7-6(3), 6-3.
Lloyd Glasspool with Harri Heliovaara were defeated by Luca Van Assche & Sascha Gueymard Wayenburg in the quarter-final in Aix-en-Provence 6-4, 3-6, 10-4.
Toby Martin with Nicholas Bybel were defeated by Leonardo Malgaroli & Marcello Serafini in the semi-final in Santa Margherita Di Pula 7-5, 6-3.
James Markiewicz with Jorge Martinez Martinez were defeated by Robin Bertrand & Miguel Gomes in the first round in Meerbusch 6-1, 7-5.
Harriet Dart & Katie Swan were defeated by Isabelle Haverlag & Justina Mikulskyte in the first round in Wiesbaden 6-4, 7-5.
Alicia Barnett & Olivia Nicholls were defeated by Andrea Gamiz & Eva Vedder in the semi-final in Wiesbaden 6-1, 6-3.
Tara Moore with Emina Bektas were defeated by Timea Babos & Nao Hibino in the semi-final in Bonita Springs 7-5, 6-3.
Jodie Burrage & Yuriko Lily Miyazaki were defeated by Samantha Murray-Sharan & Xenia Knoll in the semi-final in Kope 6-2, 6-2.
Emily Webley-Smith with Olga Danilovic were defeated by Conny Perrin & Joanne Zuger in the semi-final in Koper 0-0 (RET).
Samantha Murray-Sharan with Xenia Knoll defeated Conny Perrin & Joanne Zuger in the final in Koper 6-3, 6-2.
Next Week Brits play in Rome, Bordeaux, Zagreb, Coquimbo, Nottingham, Italy, Greece, Paris, Spain, France, Italy, Croatia, Sweden & Tunisia.
 |
| Follow Britwatch - Sport in General, Brits in Particular! | |
|---|---|
| Soundcloud | |
| YouTube | |
| We may receive compensation for products purchased via affiliate links on this website | |