Granollers/Sock Blast To Basel Title

Fourth seeds Marcel Granollers and Jack Sock streaked to the Swiss Indoors Basel title on Sunday, lifting the trophy in their first tournament as a team.

“We knew well going into the week that if we played well, we could be a dangerous team,” said Sock. “We’re both crafty and like playing from the baseline, but are also comfortable at the net. We served well and he returned very well. He usually carries me on the return games. We just had fun out there and kept it light and loose.”

The Spanish-American duo prevailed 6-3, 6-4 over Robert Lindstedt and Michael Venus in exactly one hour at the St. Jakobshalle, saving three of four break points faced. They claimed an initial break to love in the second game of the first set and another to open the second set, eventually earning the win on their first match point.

“I will be playing with Ivan Dodig next season,” said Granollers. “That’s my plan, but I had a great week with Jack here. We had fun and won the title, so it’s a very good way to end the season.”

For Granollers, it was the 30-year-old’s 13th ATP World Tour doubles title and third of 2016. He previously triumphed on the clay of Bastad (w/Marrero) and in Tokyo earlier this month (w/Matkowski). Sock, 24, notched his eighth ATP World Tour doubles crown and second in three weeks. He recently lifted the Masters 1000 trophy in Shanghai with John Isner. The tandem earn 500 Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings points and split €114,100 in prize money.

Lindstedt and Venus, who were also playing for the first time this week, entered the final on the heels of an upset win over top seeds Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau on Saturday. The Swede is 20-22 in ATP World Tour finals, while the Kiwi fell to 5-7. They plan to team together full-time next season.