Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo saved three of four break points they faced in their 6-4 6-7 (2-7) 10-8 win over Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektic after 1 hour and 44 minutes at the ATP Finals in London. Kubot and Melo ended their fourth consecutive team appearance with a 1-2 record in their round-robin group. The Polish and Brazilian team ended their partnership with this win.
Kubot and Melo finished the season with a 21-13 team record and won two ATP Tour titles in Acapulco and Vienna.
Koolhof and Mektic did not convert three break points in their first return game. Kubot and Melo forced four volley errors from Koolhof and Mektic to get the break at 2-2 and closed out the first set with a love service hold at 5-4.
Koolhof played with aggression from the baseline to break Kubot in the sixth game for 4-2. Kubot and Melo broke back in the ninth game to draw level to 5-5. Koolhof and Mektic earned two mini-breaks to win the tie-break 7-2 forcing the match to the Match Tie-Break.
Kubot and Melo converted their second match point when Kubot hit a low forehand return ending Koolhof and Nikola Mektic’s unbeaten start at this tournament.
“It is a very special tournament. We did everything to be here. It represents achievement in life, achievement as a team. I am glad I could be here many times. For us to be at a place that has the best eight singles players and the best eight doubles teams is very special. Today was another one. Unfortunately we did not qualify for the semifinals, but we finished with a win”, said Melo.
