Bopanna/Middelkoop Claim Spot In Antwerp Semi-finals
Rohan Bopanna and Matwe Middelkoop completed the European Open semi-final line-up on Friday with a 6-3, 4-6, 10-4 triumph against Alex de Minaur and Matt Reid.
Bopanna and Middelkoop, who beat fourth seeds Jamie Murray and Neal Skupski in the first round, converted three of six break points to reach the semi-finals in 70 minutes. The Indian-Dutch tandem is making its team debut this week.
[WATCH LIVE 1]Bopanna and Middelkoop are both chasing their second ATP Tour crowns of the year. Bopanna began the year with success at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open (w/Koolhof), while Middelkoop completed a title run at the Cordoba Open (w/Demoliner).
The unseeded pair will face home favourites Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen for a place in the final. The Belgians, who are yet to drop a set in Antwerp, beat Daniel Evans and Cameron Norrie 7-5, 6-3 in the quarter-finals on Thursday.
Klaasen/McLachlan Reach Cologne Doubles Final
Raven Klaasen and Ben McLachlan dented the chances of Nitto ATP Finals contenders Max Purcell and Luke Saville on Friday with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over 74 minutes for a place in the bett1HULKS Championship final. Klaasen has a 16-20 record in tour-level finals, while McLachlan is 5-5 in title matches.
Purcell and Saville, this year’s Australian Open finalists, are currently No. 9 in the FedEx ATP Doubles Team Rankings and are chasing a spot at The O2 season finale from 15-22 November. They are 75 points behind eighth-placed Jamie Murray and Neal Skupski (1,500 points).
[WATCH LIVE 2]Marcus Daniell and Philipp Oswald extended their winning streak to six matches by beating top seeds Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo 6-2, 4-6, 10-3 in the quarter-finals over 87 minutes. They will next challenge Nitto ATP Finals qualifiers and two-time Roland Garros champions Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies on Saturday.
Daniell and Philipp captured their first ATP Tour team title at last week’s Forte Village Sardegna Open (d. Cabal/Farah). They also reached the ASB Classic final in Auckland (l. to Bambridge/McLachlan) in January.