Arends/Pel Clinch Bastad Doubles Title
Dutch Duo Sander Arends and David Pel clinched their first ATP Tour title on Sunday as they defeated Albano Olivetti and Andre Begemann 6-4, 6-2 in the Nordea Open doubles final.
Arends and Pel were competing in their second tour-level final of the season having reached the championship match at the Open 13 Provence (l. to Glasspool/Heliovaara) in Marseille in March. They struck three aces and won 85 per cent (23/27) of their first-service points to record victory in 66 minutes. The duo have previously captured 28 ATP Challenger Tour trophies between them, with this their first at tour-level.
The Dutch pair started well in Bastad, breaking to move 3-1 ahead as they won 50 per cent (5/10) of points on their opponents’ second serve in the first set. Arends and Pel then saved both break points they faced in the 10th game to capture the opener.
They continued to dominate in the second set, closing the net with great effect to move 5-0 ahead. Despite being pegged back to 5-2, they closed out the victory on serve to clinch the title.
Olivetti and Begemann were competing together as a team for the first time in Sweden this week, and upset top seeds Andres Molteni and Andrea Vavassori on their way to a maiden tour-level final.