Kontinen/Roger-Vasselin Save Match Points To Reach Stockholm Doubles Final

Henri Kontinen/Edouard Roger-Vasselin continued their outstanding run on Friday at the Intrum Stockholm Open, saving three match points in a thrilling 6-3, 3-6, 16-14 semi-final victory over fourth seeds Wesley Koolhof/Fabrice Martin.

The Finnish-French pairing fought back from 8/9, 10/11 and 12/13 in the Match Tie-break to move closer to their first ATP Tour doubles crown as a team. Kontinen seeks his second ATP Tour doubles title of the year and Roger-Vasselin looks for his fourth.

Kontinen/Roger-Vasselin await the winner of top seeds Jean-Julien Rojer/Horia Tecau and third seeds Mate Pavic/Bruno Soares. Rojer/Tecau prevailed over Andre Goransson/Nathaniel Lammons 7-6(5) 6-2. Pavic/Soares, last week’s champions at the Rolex Shanghai Masters (d. Kubot/Melo), cruised through Radu Albot/Robert Lindstedt 6-3, 6-3.

At the VTB Kremlin Cup in Moscow, Simone Bolelli/Andres Molteni upset third seeds Marcus Daniell/Philipp Oswald 6-4, 6-4 to reach the final. They’ll face fourth seeds Marcelo Demoliner/Matwe Middelkoop or Thomas Fabbiano/Andreas Seppi in Saturday’s championship match.

European Open top seeds Kevin Krawietz/Andreas Mies encountered few problems in their 6-4, 6-3 quarter-final win over Sander Arends/David Pel in Antwerp. The German pair are aiming for their first title since prevailing at Roland Garros (d. Chardy/Martin) as they look to qualify for a debut appearance at the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals, held at The O2 in London from 10-17 November.