Weeks 3 & 4 - Australian Open (Hard) - Men's Doubles

steven · Tennis legend

RE: Weeks 3 & 4 - Australian Open (Hard) - Men's Doubles

steven · Tennis legend

... and Butorac/Klaasen take the 1st, so will serve for the match

steven · Tennis legend

QF: (12) Dom Inglot & Treat Huey (PHI) CR 50 (22+28) lost to Eric Butorac & Raven Klaasen (USA/RSA) CR 93 (48+45) by 6-7(3) 7-6(6) 6-4

Gutted! A great run though and both should rise to around WR 20 - most likely Treat just inside and Dom just outside.

-- Edited by steven on Tuesday 21st of January 2014 07:20:26 AM

Mburnett1 · Social player

I woke just in time to see Dom lose 6-7, 7-6, 6-4 cry

So close but we knew this would be an extremely tough match after their opponents had dispatched the top seeds in the last 16. Still a brilliant tournament for Dom and Treat and hopefully a great sign of things to come for the rest of the year.

Spectator · All-time great

Sounds like a wonderful match - and it has indeed been a great tournament. As Mr Inglot said in an interview, they now know that they really belong and can go deep ... and think about winning. And if they had to lose to anyone, well ... Eric Butorac has a longstanding reputation for being one of the nicest people on the tour, and it's terrific to see Mr Klaasen doing well, too (and great for tennis in South Africa).

wolf · Tennis legend

I got up at quarter to 9 and re-round the stream on Eurosport Player as far back as it could go, which was 7-6 *1-2

Some observations:

- I thought the final set was of quite poor quality.
- Butorac/Klaasen were crossing after serve after every point, but not enough returns were sent up the line.
- Treat has improved his serve. It had a bit more bite on it than before.
- Treat was easily the weakest link, he just didn't have that sharpness he normally has from the back of the court and missed too many chances to win the point on return. Dom out returned him in the second set in particular.
- That game at 3-4 final set was just terrible from both teams, Treat was in the point on all three of his break points but just couldn't find the killer shot. On the first one in particular he played a quite terrible lob. They both should have been more clinical and aggressive in those moments.
- 4-4 game saw two straightforward volleys missed by Treat and Dom left one which went in and there was absolutely no fight in the final game on return.

-- Edited by wolf on Tuesday 21st of January 2014 03:10:41 PM

steven · Tennis legend

You're both right in a way - it was a very exciting match but the quality wasn't particularly high. I imagine all four players were pretty nervous with so much at stake.

steven · Tennis legend

Eric & Raven have now beaten former no. 1 team Nestor/Zimonjic to make the Final.

So they've now beaten former and current (Bryans) no. 1 teams, as well as Hewitt/Rafter, Jamie/John & Dom/Treat ... and Dom & Treat are the only pair to have taken a set off them!

-- Edited by steven on Thursday 23rd of January 2014 01:34:03 AM

Spectator · All-time great

What a run! While I regret their having beaten our pairs, glad to see two really lovely people who have toiled at the margins for years making it to the finals. (Sorry that they aren't being joined there by Mahut and Llodra, but one can't have everything)

RJA · Hall of fame

I too would have also liked to see Llodra and Mahut make the final. Llodra might be a bit of a jerk but Mahut comes across as a great guy and how could I not cheer on two of the last out and out serve volley players on the tour.

Spectator · All-time great

Yes, my hopes were more for Mahut than Llodra, too. And for similar reasons.

wolf · Tennis legend

I also wanted Llodra and Mahut to win, but I like Kubot as well so I'm happy either way.

But I'm so glad for Eric. A truely nice guy and so unassuming.

Two new Grand Slam champions whoever wins.

Spectator · All-time great

Well, wolf, looks like Kubot just set a new record for doubles joy ... gather from the radio commentary that he literally leapt into the players box! Obviously a very happy person. (It was also pretty clear, listening to radio, that there were a number of South Africans and Poles watching the tennis today ... and the Poles were pretty happy, too!)

Would have liked things a bit more of a contest ... and the whole to go the other way, personally ... but nice to hear the joy. And Linstedt's acceptance speech, in which he acknowledged knowing all too well what it felt like to lose GS finals, was very gracious and moving. As were all of them actually - Butorac's where he noted that when he was 22, he'd come to the AO as a fan ... as he said, can't be many playing on Rod Laver who have had that path ... Klaasen's thanking all of SA and Kubot's thanking Poles present and absent. They all came across very well across the board. Hope they continue on to more such occasions.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

So someone finally got the better of Booty & Klaasen, Kubot & Lindstedt running out comfortable winners by 3 & 3. cry smile

indiana · Tennis legend

Pity, though still pleased for Kubot, and Linstedt has had rather a few disappointments.