Bryans Knock Out Reigning Madrid Champs In Rome

Seventh seeds Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan beat Mutua Madrid Open champions Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau 6-4, 7-6(4) on Tuesday at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome.

The Bryans, four-time champions at the Foro Italico, won 85 per cent of their first-serve points and saved all four break points faced to win their first Rome match together since the 2017 semi-finals (l. to Herbert/Mahut).

The twin brothers will meet Karen Khachanov/Marc Lopez, who beat Pablo Cuevas/Juan Martin del Potro 3-6, 7-6(3), 13-11.

Watch Hot Shot: Khachanov Saves Match Point

Austrians Jurgen Melzer/Dominic Thiem set up a second-round showdown with top seeds Lukasz Kubot/Marcelo Melo by beating Italian wild cards Filippo Baldi/Andrea Pellegrino 6-3, 3-6, 10-7.

Canada’s Denis Shapovalov and Spain’s Fernando Verdasco knocked out Madrid semi-finalists Wesley Koolhof/Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 6-2, and will next face fifth seeds Oliver Marach/Mate Pavic.