This year’s Australian Open doubles champions Ivan Dodig and Filip Polasek beat Kevin Krawietz and Horia Tecau 7-6 (7-2) 7-5 to improve to 1-1 in the Green Group of the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin.
Dodig and Polasek will face Olympic gold medallists and Wimbledon champions Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic for a place in the semifinals.
Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos, who saved four break points to beat Dodig and Polasek on Sunday, have secured their qualifying spot for the semifinal.
Dodig and Polasek did not convert three break points on the Krawietz and Tecau’s serve in the first set (including two chances that doubled at set points at 5-6), but they earned two mini-breaks to win the tie-break 7-2.
Dodig and Polasek fended off two break points in the sixth game of the second set. Neither team was able to convert their break points until the 10th game. Dodig and Polasek broke serve in the 11th game when Polasek hit a forehand return winner before serving out the match at love. Krawietz and Tecau will take on Granollers and Zeballos on Thursday. It will be Tecau’s final ATP match.
