Dodig-Melo win Shanghai Masters title

Shanghai, Oct 13 (IANS) Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo improved their chances of qualifying for the ATP World Tour Finals for the first time by capturing the Shanghai Rolex Masters title here Sunday.

The fifth seeds defeated eighth-seeded Spaniards and fellow London contenders David Marrero and Fernando Verdasco 7-6(2), 6-7(6), 10-2 in a thrilling final for their first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crown that was also their first team title, reports Xinhua.

The Croatian-Brazilian team earned $226,000 and 1,000 ATP ranking points for their victory in one hour and 44 minutes and moved up to third position in the ATP doubles rankings.

Marrero and Verdasco failed to convert four break point opportunities in the first set which lasted 45 minutes. Dodig and Melo won the first six points in the tiebreak with Dodig producing some excellent returns. The duo won 79 per cent of their first service points.

In the second set, Verdasco saved a deciding deuce point at 2-2 with a powerful forehand volley winner and Marrero withstood mounting pressure two games later with clutch serving at 30-30 and 40-30.

Playing with greater aggression, Marrero and Verdasco won the first five points in the tiebreak. The duo squandered three set point opportunities from 6-3 including Marrero’s failure to clinch the set when serving at 6-5. On their fourth set point at 7-6, Verdasco struck a backhand return winner to earn a super tiebreak. The second set lasted 47 minutes.

Dodig and Melo played with confidence in the super tiebreak by mixing up their service placement and getting each return back into play. They also remained solid at the net. Melo closed out the match on the first of seven championship points.