Frenchmen Complete Montreal-Cincinnati Double

  • Posted: Aug 20, 2017

Frenchmen Complete Montreal-Cincinnati Double

Aug202017

Herbert and Mahut notch 10th team title

Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut captured their second straight ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title in dramatic fashion on Sunday at the Western & Southern Open. The Frenchmen celebrated a 7-6(6) 6-4 victory over Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares, as Herbert lunged for a stunning return that landed just inside the tramline for the lone break of the match.

Herbert and Mahut, who lifted the Coupe Rogers trophy just one week ago, extend their win streak to eight in a row with the win in Cincinnati. It marks the second straight year in which a team has completed the Canada-Cincinnati double, following Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo in 2016.

“We’re having a good run,” said Herbert. “It’s our second straight title in Cincinnati and we’re looking forward to a third at the US Open… It’s an amazing run we’re having.

“I think it was a great final, a great level of doubles. Both teams are playing well. It all came down to one or two points. So it was a great match and we came out winning. So it’s an amazing feeling right now and we are just happy to win.”

Moreover, the French duo have now won six ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crowns, all at different tournaments. They reeled off three straight victories to open their 2016 campaign, in Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo, and have now compiled another streak of three consecutive Masters 1000 titles, triumphing in Rome, Montreal and Cincinnati.

“It was good to play in front of many fans today,” said Mahut. “I think Jamie and Bruno played really great tennis all the week and today. A little bit lucky to get the first set and then at the end we won the match. It was really, really close, but was on our side today.”

Herbert and Mahut needed one hour and 35 minutes to notch their 10th team title overall, saving all four break points faced. Herbert’s heroics on their first match point – and first break point of the final – sealed the victory. They split $295,500 in prize money and 1,000 Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings points, further solidifying their place among the top threats bidding to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals.

Individually, Mahut clinched his 20th tour-level doubles title, while Herbert moved to 11-5 in title matches. Murray and Soares dropped to 6-4 in finals together, sharing $144,670 in prize money and 600 Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings points.

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