Arevalo/Middelkoop Save 2 M.P. In Rome
Marcelo Arevalo and Matwe Middelkoop needed to save two match points on Thursday to reach the Internazionali BNL d’Italia quarter-finals in Rome.
The alternates recovered from 7/9 down in a Match Tie-break to overcome home favourites Fabio Fognini and Lorenzo Musetti 7-6(4), 6-7(5), 11-9 on Court 2. Arevalo and Middelkoop were unable to convert any of the eight break points they created throughout the match, but they won four straight points to finish the match after one hour and 55 minutes.
The Marbella quarter-finalists will face Wesley Koolhof and Jean-Julien Rojer for a spot in the semi-finals. Koolhof and Rojer rallied from a set down to beat Ariel Behar and Gonzalo Escobar 4-6, 6-3, 10-8.
[WATCH LIVE 1]Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic continued their strong run of form with a 7-6(4), 7-6(2) victory against Marcus Daniell and Philipp Oswald. The Miami and Monte-Carlo champions will meet Adrian Mannarino and Benoit Paire in the quarter-finals. The Frenchmen needed 74 minutes to claim a 6-3, 7-6(2) win against Marcelo Demoliner and Daniil Medvedev.
Defending champions Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos saved a match point to book their place in the last eight. The Madrid titlists trailed their Match Tie-break 9/10 before they reeled off three consecutive points to beat Lukasz Kubot and Franko Skugor 7-5, 4-6, 12-10.
John Peers and Michael Venus upset third seeds Ivan Dodig and Filip Polasek 6-1, 7-6(2) to reach the quarter-finals. The unseeded duo, which won three titles last season, saved five of the six break points they faced en route to victory. Peers and Venus will next face eighth seeds Kevin Krawietz and Horia Tecau, who beat Liam Broady and Andy Murray 6-3, 6-4.