Fifth-seeded Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson beat third seeds Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektic 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 on their debut at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin.
Purcell and Thompson saved the only break point in the third game to hold serve for 2-1. Both teams held on their next service games to set up a tie-break. Purcell and Thompson earned three mini-breaks to cruise through to a 7-1 win in the tie-break.
The Australian doubles team raced out to a 3-0 lead with a double break in the second set. Koolhof and Mektic pulled one break back in the fourth game and held at 30 for 2-3. Purcell and Thompson sealed the win with a break on their second match point to move to 1-0 in Mike Bryant Group.
Marcell Granollers and Horacio Zeballos will take on Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten. “It was great. From the get-go we were on it. We were ready to play. We are happy to be happy at the Nitto ATP Finals, so it was massively pleasing. It’s great for our first time here. I started with a win, life could not be better here”, said Jordan Thompson.
