Herbert/Mahut Master Montreal For Ninth Team Title

They say that Montreal is the Paris of North America, and French duo Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut certainly made it their home this week.

Herbert and Mahut claimed their ninth title together, edging Rohan Bopanna and Ivan Dodig 6-4, 3-6, 10-6 on Sunday at the Coupe Rogers. The fifth seeds improved to 20-8 this season after one hour and 22 minutes, firing four aces and notching 88 per cent of first serve points.

It was the fifth ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crown for the French duo, all coming at different tournaments. Last year, they prevailed in Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo, and earlier this year they lifted the trophy in Rome.

“It was a hard match against a really good team,” said Herbert. “We managed to win the first, they played really well in the second and we had a good level in the Match Tie-break.

“When I was younger, I came here with dreams and goals and to be able to win such big titles is a dream come true for me. My 10th title is great and I hope I’ll have many more with Nico.”

The #CoupeRogers doubles champions – @p2hugz and @nmahut – have a message for you… pic.twitter.com/Iq0VRnQrqK

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 13, 2017

Herbert and Mahut got off to a strong start on a sunny early afternoon on Court Central. The fifth-seeded tandem broke in seventh game of the opening set and closed out the opener with a hold to love.

Bopanna and Dodig rebounded nicely in the second, taking the set with a late break, but their French opponents were too dominant in the ensuing Match Tie-break. A quick 4/0 lead was too much to overcome and they would seal the victory on their fourth championship point, as Herbert fired a service winner.

“We had four tough matches,” said Mahut. “After having a few months without winning too much, it’s good to come back in the [Emirates ATP Doubles] Race to London.

“I couldn’t have expected to win 19 titles when I started. I’m pretty happy, but I want to have the most among Frenchmen. More than Michael Llodra!”

Herbert and Mahut are the first French team to win the title at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event in Canada. They split $277,030 in prize money and 1,000 Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings points. Individually, 26-year-old Herbert won his 10th tour-level doubles title and 35-year-old Mahut claimed his 19th.

Bopanna and Dodig, meanwhile, share $135,630 in prize money and 600 Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings points. Bidding for his third title of the season, the Bangalore native falls to 16-26 in doubles finals. His Croatian teammate, who was also vying for his third victory of the year, drops to 8-12. Dodig had won the title in Toronto in 2016 with Marcelo Melo.

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