Matos & Vega Hernandez Win Marrakech Title In ATP Tour Team Debut

Rafael Matos and David Vega Hernandez first competed as a team last week in Marbella on the ATP Challenger Tour. On Saturday at the Grand Prix Hassan II, they capped off their tour-level team debut with a title.

The Brazilian/Spanish duo defeated Andrea Vavassori and Jan Zielinski, 6-1, 7-5, in the Marrakech final. After dominating the opening set, the champions trailed by a break in the second but won two sudden-death break points — including one on match point — to earn the victory. The first sudden-death point doubled as a set point for Vavassori and Zielinski on serve at 5-4.

Matos, the doubles World No. 68, claimed his third ATP Tour title and his second of 2022, with both previous triumphs coming alongside fellow Brazilian Felipe Meligeni Rodrigues Alves.

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The Marrakech title was a second tour-level crown for the 27-year-old Vega Hernandez, who won his first title last season in Umag alongside Fernando Romboli of Brazil.

“We lost our first set 2-6 this week, so we didn’t have a great start and therefore it feels even more special to stand here with the trophy,” said the Spaniard. “I also want to congratulate Andrea who is a good friend, and I’m always happy to share a court with him.”

That opening set was the only one the champions dropped on the week. After advancing to the second round in a Match Tie-break, they rattled off three straight-sets wins. Matos and Vega Hernandez’s semi-final victory over Aleksandr Nedovyesov and Aisam ul-Haq Qureshi avenged a loss to that pairing one week ago in Marbella.