Evans/Peers Make Winning Start In Tokyo Doubles

In the first doubles match of the 2022 Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships, fourth seeds Daniel Evans and John Peers made a winning start against Sweden’s Andre Gorannson and Japan’s Ben McLachlan on Monday.

In a 6-2, 7-6(5) victory, Evans and Peers converted on three of five break points and won five consecutive games from 2-2 in the opening set to take control of the match in Rakuten Mobile Arena, Tokyo’s second stadium.

The British-Australian pair dropped serve on the only break point they faced to fall behind 2-3 in the second, but delivered an instant response to draw level on a deciding point. From 3/4 down in the tie-break, they closed out the match by winning four of its final five points. Peers has enjoyed previous success in Tokyo, reaching the 2013 final with Jamie Murray.

The fourth seeds will next face either Alex de Minaur and Frances Tiafoe or Mackenzie McDonald and Marcelo Melo.

Belgian qualifiers Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen closed Monday’s play at the Ariake Colosseum with a 3-6, 7-6(5), 10-8 victory against Japanese wild cards Toshihide Matsui and Kaito Uesugi. Despite failing to convert on any of their nine break points, Gille and Vliegen fired 12 aces on their way to victory in a dramatic Match Tie-break.

The Belgians could face Wimbledon champions and Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell in the second round, though the second seeds must first defeat Alexei Popyrin and Ramkumar Ramanathan.

Reigning Australian Open champions Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis are the top seeds in the Tokyo doubles draw.

Dodig/Krajicek Advance In Astana
Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek began their Astana Open campaign with victory Monday, moving past Grigoriy Lomakin and Denis Yevseyev 6-3, 6-2.

The Croatian-American team will next meet second seeds Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic or Rohan Bopanna and Matwe Middelkoop. Dodig and Krajicek are aiming to win their second tour-level title together this season in Astana after capturing the crown in Lyon.