Kubot/Melo Overcome Soares/Pavic In New York

Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo made a winning start to their Western & Southern Open campaign on Monday, defeating Mate Pavic and Bruno Soares 7-6(4), 3-6, 10-5.

The 2017 semi-finalists improved to 6-3 as a team at the ATP Masters 1000 event after one hour and 44 minutes to book a second-round clash against Steve Johnson and Austin Krajicek. The American pairing dropped just two games to defeat Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen on Sunday.

“We are very happy, first of all, to be playing again in competition,” said Kubot. “We are happy after this long period… to continue playing good. I think today was a very good match, a very tough match against Bruno and Pavic who we have played a couple of times. To be back after five months playing this level makes us very happy.”

Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies needed 72 minutes to join Kubot and Melo in the second round. The reigning Roland Garros champions converted five of nine break points to beat Borna Coric and Franko Skugor 6-2, 6-3.

Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektic are through to their fourth quarter-final as a team this year. The Open 13 Provence finalists held each of their 10 service games to beat Daniel Evans and David Goffin 7-5, 6-1.