Monte Carlo Masters: Bopanna-Mergea advance to quarterfinals
Monte Carlo, April 14 (IANS): Rohan Bopanna and Florin Mergea downed Robert Lindstedt and Alexander Peya 7-5, 7-5 to advance to the quarter-finals of the men's doubles event at the Monte-Carlo Rolex tennis Masters. This comes a day after they ended their 4-match losing streak in the 2nd round, against Robert Lindstedt and Alexander Peya.
The sixth seeds broke serve four times (4/16) and fired four aces in the 87-minute win here on Wednesday. They will next face fourth seeds Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares.
John Peers and Henri Kontinen cruised 6-3, 6-2 against Raven Klaasen and Rajeev Ram, securing a spot in the second round in 51 minutes. The unseeded duo saved both break points faced and are looking for a second team title after winning their debut event in Brisbane in January.
"Today's match was very good," Peers was quoted as saying by atpworldtour.com after the match.
"Henri and I have been putting in a lot of hard work so it's nice to have it pay off. We have been close in so many matches lately and it's not gone our way, so it's very rewarding that this one did. It's really nice being back on the clay and in the sunshine."
Seventh seeds Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Nenad Zimonjic were eliminated by Brits Dominic Inglot and Andy Murray 2-6, 6-3, 10-5 on Wednesday.
The eighth-seeded Polish team formed by Lukasz Kubot and Marcin Matkowski was knocked out by Treat Huey and Max Mirnyi.