Koolhof/Skupski Open Rotterdam Campaign With Victory
Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski began their bid for a third tour-level title of the season together with victory on Monday at the ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament.
The fourth seeds edged Russians Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev 5-7, 7-5, 10-7 in one hour and 45 minutes to reach the second round in Rotterdam.
Koolhof and Skupski had not teamed prior to this year, but have flourished together since joining forces, clinching tour-level trophies at the Melbourne Summer Set and Adelaide International 2 in January.
In a hard-fought performance against Khachanov and Rublev, the Dutch-British tandem struck five aces and broke twice to move to 12-1 on the season. They will next face either Andrey Golubev and Edouard Roger-Vasselin or Rohan Bopanna and Denis Shapovalov.
Lloyd Harris and Tim Puetz also moved through at the ATP 500 tournament, downing Tallon Griekspoor and Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 7-6(3).
Harris and Puetz are teaming for the first time this week and will next meet second seeds Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo or ATP singles stars Felix Auger-Aliassime and Hubert Hurkacz.