Krawietz/Puetz save MP, earn consolation win in Turin
The already-eliminated Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz earned victory in their final round-robin match on Thursday at the Nitto ATP Finals, where they saved one match point en route to defeating Italians Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori 7-6(5), 4-6, 13-11.
Last year’s champions Krawietz and Puetz had lost their opening two matches in the Peter Fleming group, while Bolelli and Vavassori had won both to ensure they would top the group regardless of Thursday’s result.
Despite no qualification permutations on the line, the sixth and seventh seeds played out an entertaining clash in the Inalpi Arena, where Krawietz and Puetz saved one match point at 9/10 in the Match Tie-break before eventually advancing after one hour and 57 minutes.
Krawietz and Puetz end their season holding a 42-18 record as a team, highlighted by titles in Shanghai and Halle. The Germans went 1-2 this week in Turin, having lifted the trophy in Turin last year.
Bolelli and Vavassori will compete in the semi-finals on Saturday. They will be joined in the last four by the winner of this evening’s doubles clash between Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool and Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]