Home Favourites Erler/Miedler Clinch Second Kitzbühel Crown

Alexander Erler and Lucas Miedler gave a masterclass in handling home pressure Saturday at the Generali Open.

The Austrian pair prevailed 6-4, 6-4 against Gonzalo Escobar and Aleksandr Nedovyesov to complete a perfect week at the ATP 250 in Kitzbühel. Erler and Miedler did not drop a set all week en route to their fifth ATP Tour title together, their second in Kitzbühel and their third of 2023 after they triumphed in Acapulco and Munich earlier this year.

“This is a really amazing to be here [with the trophy] for the second time [in Kitzbühel],” said Erler. “I’m just really proud of our play, it was an amazing week,”

“Obviously playing at home, especially here where it all started for us, was really great,” added Miedler. “The weather was not good throughout the week. I feel like for 80 per cent of our final it was raining, but people stayed, made a great atmosphere and that makes it even more special.”

A single break of serve in each set was enough for the top seeds to secure an 81-minute championship-match win. Escobar and Nedovyesov saved 10 of the 12 break points they faced, but were unable to deny Erler and Miedler from backing up their 2021 Kitzbühel triumph with another title in the Austrian Alps.

“The start was pretty open I would say,” reflected Miedler. “They had break points first, and then Alex served well three times to save us. Maybe out of nowhere we broke them. That helps, when you play in front of a home crowd, a set up makes you a bit relaxed.”

The victory boosts Erler and Miedler’s hopes of qualifying for the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals for the first time. The pair, which is 28-18 for the season, remains 15th in the Pepperstone ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings after its title run, but is now just 10 points behind 14th-placed Marcelo Arevalo and Jean-Julien Rojer.