Liam Broady and Andy Murray, who had trained this week with World No. 1 Novak Djokovic at the Foro Italico, won seven straight points from 3/6 down in the Match Tie-break to beat Australians Max Purcell and Luke Saville 5-7, 7-6(5), 10-6 on Wednesday at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia. The Britons next meet eighth seeds Kevin Krawietz and Horia Tecau in the second round.
Italian wild cards Fabio Fognini and #NextGenATP star Lorenzo Musetti caused a big upset when they knocked out top-seeded Colombians and two-time Rome champions Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah 7-6(7), 6-4.
Fognini and Musetti saved two set points at 4-5 deciding point deuce and at 5/6 in the first-set tie-break, prior to sealing the win with a fifth break of the Colombians' serve. They will now play Marcelo Arevalo and Matwe Middelkoop, who defeated Britons Daniel Evans and Neal Skupski, this season’s Miami Open presented by Itau and Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters finalists, 6-3, 6-2.
[WATCH LIVE 1]
Second-seeded Croatians Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic improved to a 33-4 record on the season — including two ATP Masters 1000 crowns — after a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Alexander Bublik and Cristian Garin. They now face Marcus Daniell and Philipp Oswald in the second round.
Third seeds Ivan Dodig and Filip Polasek had four match points at 5-4 in the second set, but had to wait for their win in a hard-fought 7-6(5), 5-7, 10-7 win over Alex de Minaur and Jan-Lennard Struff. The Croatian/Slovak team next meet John Peers and Michael Venus.
Elsewhere, defending champions and fourth seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos began their quest for a fourth Masters 1000 crown with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Argentines Andres Molteni and Diego Schwartzman. Three days ago, Granollers and Zeballos beat Mektic and Pavic in the Mutua Madrid Open final. They will now prepare to face Franko Skugor and Lukasz Kubot.
Italian wild cards Fabio Fognini and #NextGenATP star Lorenzo Musetti caused a big upset when they knocked out top-seeded Colombians and two-time Rome champions Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah 7-6(7), 6-4.
Fognini and Musetti saved two set points at 4-5 deciding point deuce and at 5/6 in the first-set tie-break, prior to sealing the win with a fifth break of the Colombians' serve. They will now play Marcelo Arevalo and Matwe Middelkoop, who defeated Britons Daniel Evans and Neal Skupski, this season’s Miami Open presented by Itau and Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters finalists, 6-3, 6-2.
[WATCH LIVE 1]
Second-seeded Croatians Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic improved to a 33-4 record on the season — including two ATP Masters 1000 crowns — after a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Alexander Bublik and Cristian Garin. They now face Marcus Daniell and Philipp Oswald in the second round.
Third seeds Ivan Dodig and Filip Polasek had four match points at 5-4 in the second set, but had to wait for their win in a hard-fought 7-6(5), 5-7, 10-7 win over Alex de Minaur and Jan-Lennard Struff. The Croatian/Slovak team next meet John Peers and Michael Venus.
Elsewhere, defending champions and fourth seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos began their quest for a fourth Masters 1000 crown with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Argentines Andres Molteni and Diego Schwartzman. Three days ago, Granollers and Zeballos beat Mektic and Pavic in the Mutua Madrid Open final. They will now prepare to face Franko Skugor and Lukasz Kubot.