Melo/Kubot Save 2 M.P. In Epic Acapulco Doubles Final
Melo/Kubot Save 2 M.P. In Epic Acapulco Doubles Final
After finishing 2019 with a disappointing 1-5 record in championship matches, Lukasz Kubot/Marcelo Melo emphatically reversed the trend on Saturday at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC. The second seeds saved two championship points to defeat top seeds Juan Sebastian Cabal/Robert Farah 7-6(6), 6-7(4), 11-9 and take the title in Acapulco.
”Me and Kubot are happy to win this title in Acapulco. This title means a lot to us,” Melo said. “We were able to put our best tennis together. The match was very tough and it was decided by one or two points.”
Kubot/Melo picked up their 13th ATP Tour team doubles title and the first of this season. Both men had previously prevailed in Acapulco with different partners. Kubot won this event in 2010 (w/Marach) and 2013 (w/Marrero), while Melo took the title in 2015 (w/Dodig). Kubot/Melo improved to 3-4 in their ATP Head2Head series with Cabal/Farah.
Cabal/Farah were seeking their 17th ATP Tour team doubles title and the first since prevailing last September at the US Open (d. Granollers/Zeballos). The top seeds surpassed their best result in Acapulco after recording semi-final finishes in 2015 and 2016.
The early stages of the opening set were highlighted by four service breaks in the first five games. Kubot/Melo were down for much of the set, but fought back from 1-3 and saved a set point on their serve at 4-5 to force a tie-break. The second seeds let slip a set point at 6/5, but converted their second chance for a commanding advantage.
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Both teams traded comfortable service holds throughout the second set. But this time, it was Cabal/Farah who raised their level in the tie-break. With the score tied at 4/4, the top seeds went on a three-point run to set up a Match Tie-break.
Cabal/Farah moved to 9/7 in the Match Tie-break and held two championship points, but the second seeds shocked the crowd by going on a four-point run to prevail after two hours and 32 minutes.
Kubot/Melo picked up 500 FedEx ATP Doubles Rankings points and split $119,750. Cabal/Farah earned 300 points and split $58,620.