ATP Tour Finals - Doubles- 2021

[Hawkeye]

https://www.nittoatpfinals.com/-/media/images/news/2021/11/11/20/26/nitto-atp-finals-2021-doubles-groups.jpg?h=459&w=817&hash=974B2EABA7BA031E50FC29C49E657A30

[Jane]

Jamie and Bruno play Joe and Rajeev at 10.30am (UK) Monday.

[exislander]

J/R took first set 6-1, second on serve so far.

[Jane]

Ram and Salisbury get the win after a second set tb

[Hawkeye]

I guess, given that one of them had to lose, that playing each other first up is for the best.

[JAMES4578]

Pity Jamie/Bruno started slowly though, 2nd set was interesting mind you but Ram/Salisbury still the stronger.

[Jane]

Jamie/Bruno v. Cabal/Farah. Players arrive on court. Good luck, Jamie and Bruno :thumbup:

[JAMES4578]

Unfortunately not going too well thus far, Cabal/Farah up 6-2,4-2 with a break after chance to fight back.

[Jane]

Cabal and Farah win :crying: - gutted for Jamie and Bruno

[JAMES4578]

Jamie/Bruno had a bit of a late flourish and even had 0-30 in final game but cannot stop Cabal/Farah winning 6-2,6-4. The Columbians were strong but Jamie/Bruno overall never found the consistency and struggled on serve. Will be a bit gutting as gone down twice in straight sets and did get the better of their opponents in Paris.

[Sallydaisy]

Very tight match between Salisbury/Ram and Herbert/Mahut - no breaks of serve.
'our' team is just ahead 6-5 on serve. They need to break now to take the set
or it goes to a tie-break.

[Sallydaisy]

Tie-break, Ram serving first.
*1-0
1-1*
1-2* PHH holds
*2-2
*3-2 good hold by Joe
3-3* all square at the change of ends, Mahut has another serve to come

[Sallydaisy]

3-4*
*4-4
*5-4
5-5*
6-5* and Joe/Rajeev have a set point ... first of the match!!!

It's on his own serve ...

[Sallydaisy]

* 6-6 ... you might have guessed it ...

[Sallydaisy]

PHH/Mahut take the first set 7'6(7).
Just one teeny mistake at the net and that was that!

[Sallydaisy]

Aha! After no breaks of serve in the opening set we've now had 2!!!
Joe/Rajeev lead 3-0 and will serve after the change of ends.
Looks as though we're going 3 ...
:peace:

[JAMES4578]

Some turnaround, a bagel for Ram/Salisbury though would imagine Herbert/Mahut will get something going in the match breaker. Let's go!

[Sallydaisy]

Well, a bagel for 'les bleus'!!!

Tie-break for the 3rd and final set.

*1-0
1-1* Rajeev serving.
1-2*
*1-3 Yay a mini break!
*2-3 Joe next to serve ... c'mon, HOLD
2-4*
C'mon Joe and Rajeev!!! Hold serve.

And they did ... 2-1. Mahut serving.

[Sallydaisy]

3-4* oops mini-break gone
*3-5* but regained
*4-5 good serving from PHH keeps the French pair in contention.

[Sallydaisy]

4-6* Great 2nd serve from Rajeev, needs to hold this one too.
4-7*
*5-7 at the change of ends.

[Sallydaisy]

*6-7 Mahut has served brilliantly well tonight. Joe MUST now hold his next 2 serves.
:peace:

7-7* PHH fantastic shot. The match is now wide open, all on serve.
7-8*
*8-8
*9-8 and the French have a match point ...

[Sallydaisy]

9-9* all, change of ends. Rajeev has another serve.
10-9* and that's another match point to the French
:sofa:

[Sallydaisy]

*10-10 What a save from Rajeev! What a fantastic return!
*10-11* Come on Joe!

[Sallydaisy]

11-11 and that is because of a Double Fault from Joe.
So tense now ...
:nailbiter:

[Sallydaisy]

Joe holds ... 11-12*
... still a match point for him and Rajeev but on the serve of Mahut.

[Sallydaisy]

:yahoo::yahoo::yahoo:

Another genius shot from Rajeev Ram!!!

Salisbury/Ram won 6'7(7), 6'0, 13'11 and they lead their group.
No guarantees yet with other RR matches to play but if they can beat
Cabal/Farah they'd definitely be Semi-Finalists.

[Hawkeye]

I’d love to be able to cheer Joe on in the semis! I’m guessing that as Jamie & Bruno have had 2 comprehensive defeats their chances of qualifying at all but nil?

[JAMES4578]

Exciting breaker, thought they might have lost initiative but some great returns- well done Joe and Rajeev! Herbert/Mahut though may still be in contention and obviously quality team.

[themass15]

So pleased Joe and Rajeev won.

[JAMES4578]

I’d love to be able to cheer Joe on in the semis! I’m guessing that as Jamie & Bruno have had 2 comprehensive defeats their chances of qualifying at all but nil?

Commentators said Jamie/Bruno were officially out of contention after the 1st set of tonight's match.

[Sallydaisy]

Joe/Rajeev d cabal/farah by
7'5,2'6,11'9

[exislander]

Joe had some back treatment before the MTB but they played a cracking tie-break to win.

[JAMES4578]

Another tough one but great for Joe/Rajeev to come through with a perfect record, well done! Cabal/Farah are out, whilst Herbert/Mahut definitely through to semis.

[Hawkeye]

Great news that I’ll see Joe and Rajeev live tomorrow!

[Jane]

Jamie and Bruno on court with Herbert and Mahut - best of luck Jamie and Bruno :thumbup: :thumbup:

[Jane]

First set to the French pair - 6-3 :sad:

[Jane]

4-4 in the second set.

[Jane]

tb time

[Jane]

The Frenchmen win :crying:

[Hawkeye]

Joe and Rajeev come from a set down to reach the final! A great tie break and match tie break!

[Jan]

:bravo::cheer::cheer:

[RosieBear]

Joe and Rajeev into the final after dumping out the Croatians. Timed their run to perfection, seemed to be chasing the match but nabbed the 2nd set and went into the match tb with the momentum. Storming performance at the end. All the way guys!!

[JAMES4578]

Mektic/Pavic certainly looked stronger for much of the match but once Joe/Rajeev recovered the mini break in the 2nd set TB really turned it around in some style to reach the final, well done! Very much in control in that mtb! :clap::clap:

[Hawkeye]

I don't think it was a great match tbh. Thought Pavic was going to be the difference until the two tie breaks. Not too many people in either.

[Sallydaisy]

Well done Joe and Rajeev!!!
:yahoo:

[banskogirl]

Well done Joe and Rajeev!

[Sallydaisy]

The Final has just started, going with serve 1-1 with Joe/Rajeev serving now.

[Sallydaisy]

The Final has just started, going with serve 1-1 with Joe/Rajeev serving now.
The French broke and held for 3-1 so already a bit of an advantage in the 1st set.

[JAMES4578]

Herbert/Mahut faster out the blocks and hold on to take the first 6-4, however hopefully Joe/Rajeev can turn it around again. 3 all in 2nd.

[Hawkeye]

The French pair look untouchable on serve. Looking like some tie break magic required again.

[Sallydaisy]

Tie-break it is for the 2nd set ... and possibly match.

Les bleus are already up 3-0, a mountain to climb for Joe and Rajeev.

[Sallydaisy]

Oh dear ... Joe broken twice.
The French are serving for the title at 5-0 up in the 2nd set and with the 1st in the bag.

[Hawkeye]

More tragic than magic...

[Sallydaisy]

Eh bien, c'est ca!

Mahut/Herbert take the ATP World Tour Doubles Title 6'4, 7'6(0)
:trophy::trophy:

Well deserved in the end and avenged their RR loss to Joe and Rajeev.

[JAMES4578]

That did not go well, 7-0 breaker for Herbert/Mahut. The french team certainly in form, well done! A bit a bit disapointing from Joe/Raeev but still well done in making final!

[banskogirl]

Well done to Joe and Rageev on a great week but an amazing win for Nico and Herbert! :cheer:

[RosieBear]

Horrible match. Joe and Rajeev never really got going. Kept hoping for a repeat of yesterday's late surge but not to be. Always hard to take when they don't do themselves justice but congrats to the always classy Mahut and Herbert; if Joe or Jamie couldn't lift the trophy I'm glad it was them.