Haase/Middelkoop Clinch Trophy In Rotterdam

Robin Haase and Matwe Middelkoop captured their fourth tour-level title as a team on Sunday, edging Lloyd Harris and Tim Puetz 4-6, 7-6(5), 10-5 at the ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament.

Playing on home soil in Rotterdam, the Dutchmen raised their level in the crucial moments, hitting aggressive returns, accurate serves and precise volleys to triumph after one hour and 33 minutes.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” Haase said during the post-match press conference. “I think we won three titles before this one and those were all 250s, now a 500 which is more special and at home which makes it even more special. [It is] just fantastic and I think I can speak for both of us that we are extremely happy.”

Stepping up under pressure has been a theme for Haase and Middelkoop this week. The wild cards had won Match Tie-breaks against Belgian pair Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen and third seeds Nicolas Mahut and Fabrice Martin en route to the championship match at the ATP 500 event.

With their victory, it is the first time Haase and Middelkoop have clinched a tour-level title as a team since 2018, when they captured trophies in Pune, Sofia and Umag. Individually, Haase, 34, has now earned seven tour-level doubles titles, while Middelkoop, 38, has clinched 12 tour-level crowns.

“The fact that we already had such a good run in 2018 and this year we did it again, plus the fact that we beat some top teams, it feels really amazing,” Middelkoop added. “And the fact that we are also did it in Rotterdam, which is a home tournament for us is super special. I was a ball boy here and now being a trophy holder, and being on the billboards is something very special. I will never forget this moment ever.”

in a hard-fought match against Harris and Puetz, the Dutchmen fired eight aces and twice recovered from squandering a break advantage in the second set to eventually seal their win.

Harris and Puetz dropped just one set en route to the final as they teamed for the first time this week. Harris was competing in his maiden ATP Tour doubles final, whereas Puetz is a six-time champion at this level.