Herbert/Mahut Save 1 M.P. In Second-Round Scare
Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut’s hopes of a second Roland Garros crown were almost ended in the second round on Saturday, but the French pair survived one match point to defeat Vasek Pospisil and Jack Sock 2-6, 7-6(8), 6-4.
The 2018 champions trailed 0/3 in a second-set tie-break and needed to save match point at 7/8, before claiming victory in two hours and seven minutes. Herbert and Mahut, who became the eighth men’s doubles team to complete the Career Grand Slam at last year’s Australian Open, dropped just five points on serve in the third set and converted the only break point of the decider to complete a memorable comeback win.
The Frenchmen will next face US Open finalists Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektic in the third round. Koolhof and Mektic, who reached the Hamburg European Open semi-finals last week, are yet to drop a set in Paris.
Jamie Murray and Neal Skupski became only the second team to beat Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos on clay this year. The British pairing broke serve on three occasions to defeat the Rome champions 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 on Court 12. Granollers and Zeballos drop to 18-2 on clay in 2020.
Murray and Skupski have required a final set in each of their three victories at the event so far. The 13th seeds will meet reigning champions Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies for a spot in the semi-finals. The Germans saved three match points at 4/5 in the final set to defeat Benjamin Bonzi and Antoine Hoang 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(5) on Court 11.
Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury continued their impressive run through the draw in Paris, notching a third straight-sets victory in as many matches in the French capital. The third seeds, who captured the Australian Open crown in February, beat last year’s finalists Jeremy Chardy and Fabrice Martin 6-3, 6-2 in 65 minutes. Ram and Salisbury will face 12th seeds Jean Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau or US Open champions Mate Pavic and Bruno Soares in the quarter-finals.
Pablo Cuevas and Feliciano Lopez eliminated Generali Open champions Austin Krajicek and Franko Skugor 7-5, 6-4. Cuevas and Lopez will meet American duo Nicolas Monroe and Tommy Paul in the third round.