Koolhof/Mektic save MP to down Haase/Tsitsipas in Rome

Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektic recovered from a difficult start and pulled through a nerve-wracking end to clinch a first-round victory Friday at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia.

The seventh seeds at the clay-court ATP Masters 1000 in Rome saved a match point in the Match Tie-break before sealing a 5-7, 6-2, 11-9 triumph against Robin Haase and Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Koolhof and Mektic trailed 5/8 in the Match Tie-break but won six of the final seven points of the match, including their match-point save at 8/9, for a 93-minute win. The Dutch-Croatian team is chasing its fourth ATP Tour title and second Masters 1000 title of the year in Rome, after they lifted trophies in Auckland, Rotterdam and Indian Wells.

With Friday’s victory, Koolhof and Mektic rose one spot to third in the PIF ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings. Next up for the duo is a second-round clash with Sebastian Baez and Thiago Seyboth Wild.

Sixth seeds Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz rallied past a pair of singles stars to kick-start their campaign on Friday. The Germans defeated Australian duo Alex de Minaur and Alexei Popyrin 5-7, 6-3, 10-1 to advance to face Francisco Cerundolo and Tomas Martin Etcheverry.

Jamie Murray and Michael Venus enjoyed a more straightforward path to the second round. The Madrid semi-finalists downed Jean-Julien Rojer and Lloyd Glasspool 6-4, 6-3 after converting four of five break points they earned, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

_{^{Michael Venus (left) and Jamie Murray in action Friday at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia. Photo Credit: Peter Staples/ATP Tour}}

Murray and Venus might have the chance for swift revenge in the second round, with a second Lexus ATP Head2Head battle against Sebastian Korda and Jordan Thompson a possibility. Korda and Thompson last week defeated Murray and Venus in the semi-finals en route to the Madrid title. The American-Australian duo must upset third seeds Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury in the opening round in order to set the rematch.