Nielsen/Puetz Win Munich On Team Debut

Frederik Nielsen and Tim Puetz had never played together entering the BMW Open by FWU. But the Danish-German team is leaving Munich with a trophy.

Nielsen and Puetz defeated Brazilian Marcelo Demoliner and Indian Divij Sharan 6-4, 6-2 on Sunday to triumph after 64 minutes. The unseeded duo broke serve four times while saving two of the three break points it faced to emerge victorious.

“It’s a fantastic feeling. I feel that it’s been a long process this year. I’ve invested a lot in my doubles, especially in clay-court doubles by playing the South American swing and I feel the benefits now,” Nielsen said. “I was lucky to get a really good partner in Tim who I get along with great off the court and I feel we share a similar playing mentality, so it was great.”

It wasn’t that long ago that Nielsen and Puetz, who competed together for the first time just four days ago, appeared destined for defeat, not the final. On Saturday, they trailed Denys Molchanov and Igor Zelenay 3-8 in a Match Tie-Break and saved two match points before battling to the championship match. Nielsen and Puetz also eliminated second seeds Austin Krajicek and Artem Sitak in the quarter-finals.

“Whenever you’re down 8/3 and then two match points, you’re sort of half on the way home already,” Puetz said. “Just to still be here was a bonus and then winning the title is a huge bonus.”

Nielsen, who triumphed at Wimbledon in 2012 with Jonathan Marray, now owns three tour-level doubles titles, with this his first victory since Chennai five years ago with Johan Brunstrom. Puetz has enjoyed playing at home, winning his only other trophy in Stuttgart last year with Philipp Petzschner. The team will split €29,650 and add 250 ATP Doubles Ranking points.

“For me of course it’s the best,” Puetz said. “I have the crowd support as well and to be at a tournament where people actually recognise you, it seems to work well for me.”

Demoliner and Sharan were also pursuing their first title as a team. The Brazilian-Indian pair, which eliminated top-seeded Rohan Bopanna and Dominic Inglot in the first round, won three Match Tie-breaks to reach the final. Demoliner and Sharan earn 150 points and they will share €15,200.