Purcell/Thompson see off Granollers/Zeballos for Turin SF spot

Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson cut through some nailbiting tie-break tension to clinch a Nitto ATP Finals semi-final spot on Thursday evening.

The Australian pair dug deep for a 7-6(14), 6-3 triumph against second seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos in Turin. Needing to win just one set to ensure their spot in the last four, Purcell and Thompson held firm in a thrilling first-set tie-break, during which they fended off four set points before converting their sixth. They then rode that momentum to an early 3-0 lead in the second set en route to completing a 97-minute victory.

?? AUSSIE! AUSSIE! AUSSIE! ??@MaxPurcell98 & @jordanthommmo2 punch their ticket into the last four in Turin with a 7-6(14) 6-3 win over Granollers/Zeballos.#NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/30jms9b55m

As a result of their win, the fifth-seeded Purcell and Thompson finished second with a 2-1 record in Mike Bryan group and joined fellow event debutants Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten in advancing to the semi-finals. They are the first all-Australian team to reach the last four at the Nitto ATP Finals since legendary pair Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde in 1999.

“We’ve both had incredible years, and when you’re trying to toss up doubles and singles, it’s so tough on the body," said Thompson. "We’ve just done our best. We’ve probably played over 50 matches together, so that tells you we’re doing something right.”

With their 41st tour-level win of the season together, Purcell and Thompson also ended Granollers and Zeballos’ hopes of claiming Year-End ATP Doubles No. 1 presented by PIF honours. Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic earned that prize as a result of Thursday evening’s result.

“[Granollers and Zeballos] are a Top 2 team in the world, and I felt we like we started levels above that, to be honest,” said Purcell. “They had to play some really good tennis to stay with us that second set, but that’s doubles. You hang around for that one extra game and you find yourself back in the match, but I think we stole that full momentum for the second set.”

Granollers and Zeballos made the worst possible start in their bid to secure the straight-sets win they needed for a semi-final berth. They dropped serve in the opening game of the match, but later fought back admirably from 2-4 to force a tie-break, in which they also fell 2/4 behind early.

The Spanish-Argentine duo again rallied and went on to save five set points in what became a marathon tie-break, but they were left to rue their inability to convert any of their own four opportunities to clinch the set and ramp up the pressure on their opponents.

After finally clinching a 64-minute opening set, Purcell and Thompson were able to relax into their work in the second. They broke to love in the second game en route to sealing a win in which they won 83 per cent (39/47) of points behind first serves, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

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