Koolhof/Mektic seal Tour-leading fifth title of 2024 in Paris

Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektic are finishing with a flourish in their final season together. The sixth seeds rallied on Sunday to take home their fifth ATP Tour title of 2024 at the Rolex Paris Masters.

Koolhof and Mektic came alive in their first Match Tie-break of the week to defeat Lloyd Glasspool and Adam Pavlasek 3-6, 6-3, 10-5 in the championship match. With their Tour-leading fifth triumph of the season, the Dutch/Croatian duo rose to third in the PIF ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings.

“It’s very special. To win three Masters in a year is an unbelievable achievement from both of us,” said Koolhof, who is retiring at the end of the season. “We hit a rough patch in the middle of the season but, before Shanghai, we knew what was at stake to make Turin.”

Title No. 5⃣ in 2024 ?@wesleykoolhof & @NMektic claim the trophy in Paris!#RolexParisMasters | @RolexPMasters pic.twitter.com/FIPEISeEiu

Having won the Nitto ATP Finals together in 2020, Koolhof and Mektic will return to Turin with their sights set on more glory at the season-ending finale.

“There’s still a lot to play for in Turin and at the Davis Cup,” added Koolhof, who will represent the Netherlands against Spain in the quarter-finals at the Davis Cup. “It will be special against Spain and against Rafa [Nadal]. He will be the main guy there, but I am going to try and throw a bit of sand into the Spanish engine.”

Koolhof and Mektic had not dropped a set all week but found themselves trailing in Sunday’s final against Glasspool and Pavlasek, who were playing in their first event as a team. However, they ignited some of their most clutch tennis in the second set, during which they saved each of the two break points they faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

Their experience and quality then came to the fore in a near-flawless Match Tie-break to seal their third ATP Masters 1000 title of the season.

“We have such a good friendship, energy and understanding,” added Mektic. “On and off the court, we really enjoy it, and I think that’s crucial.”

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