Erlich/Martin Upset Top Seeds In Chengdu

Jonathan Erlich/Fabrice Martin produced a statement win on Friday at the Chengdu Open by defeating top seeds Ivan Dodig/Filip Polasek 6-2, 5-7, 10-8 to reach the doubles final.

The Israeli-French pairing won 82 per cent of their first-serve points (31/38) to advance in one hour and 35 minutes. Erlich prevailed this year in Antalya with Artem Sitak (d. Dodig/Polasek), while Martin teamed with Jeremy Chardy for titles this season in Marseille (d. McLachlan/Middelkoop) and Estoril (d. Bambridge/O’Mara), in addition to a runner-up finish at Roland Garros (l. to Krawietz/Mies).

Awaiting Erlich/Martin in the final are Serbians Nikola Cacic/Dusan Lajovic or Americans Taylor Fritz/Nicholas Monroe. Cacic/Lajovic defeated Xin Gao/Zhe Li 7-6(5), 6-3 and Fritz/Monroe prevailed over second seeds Dominic Inglot/Austin Krajicek 7-6(5), 6-2.

At the Huajin Securities Zhuhai Championships, fourth seeds Sander Gille/Jordan Vliegen moved into the doubles final with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Dominik Koepfer/Soon Woo Kwon. The Belgian pair went on an 11-match winning streak in July, taking titles in Bastad (d. Delbonis/Zeballos) and Gstaad (d. Oswald/Polasek), and finishing runner-up in Kitzbühel (l. to Oswald/Polasek).

Gille/Vliegen will face Marcel Demoliner/Matwe Middelkoop or Goncalo Oliviera/Andrei Vasilevski in the championship match.