Kubot/Melo Celebrate First Team Title Of 2019
Top seeds Lukasz Kubot/Marcelo Melo went two-for-two on Friday at the Winston-Salem Open to win their first ATP Tour team title of 2019. The Polish-Brazilian pairing beat American wild cards Nicholas Monroe/Tennys Sandgren 6-7(6), 6-1, 10-3 on Friday evening to claim the ATP 250 championship, their 13th doubles crown together.
Kubot/Melo dismissed Brits Jamie Murray/Neal Skupski 6-2, 6-3 earlier in the day. Both doubles semi-finals were postponed until Friday because of rain on Thursday.
"We played very good since the first match. We're of course very happy with the title. We were looking for this title during the year, and we missed a couple opportunities along the way. But we're so happy to play as we played this tournament," Melo said.
Kubot/Melo, four-time titlists together in 2018, were 0-2 in title matches this season (Indian Wells, Halle) coming into the final. But the veteran pairing saved all five break points faced in the second set and ran away with the Match Tie-break.
The two have won at least one title together for the past five years. Melo, who won his 33rd doubles title, extended his title streak to 13 consecutive years, and Kubot, with his 25th doubles title, extended his own streak to eight consecutive years. The Pole has also won a doubles title in 10 of the past 11 years.
They'll receive 250 ATP Doubles Rankings points and split $40,600 in prize money.
"I think the level was very high today," Kubot said. "We used our chances. We had a great four matches here."
Monroe/Sandgren were playing in their second tournament together after falling in the first round of the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati last week. They beat Belgians Sander Gille/Joran Vliegen 7-6(1), 6-4 to reach the title match. The Americans will receive 150 ATP Doubles Rankings points and split $20,800 in prize money.