Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski continued the stellar start to their partnership by reaching their sixth ATP Tour final since first teaming in January. On Saturday at the Mutua Madrid Open, the seventh seeds defeated Hubert Hurkacz and John Isner, 7-6(7), 7-5, to continue their bid for a fourth title on the season.
One week after falling just short of the Barcelona trophy in a Match Tie-break, the Dutch-British duo will contest their second straight final on Sunday at La Caja Magica.
Facing the Miami Open presented by Itau champions in the semi-finals, Koolhof and Skupski were at their best at the closing stages of two tight sets, both of which included an early trade of breaks. After missing out on a pair of set points from 6/4 in the opening tie-break, they saved a set point of their own before closing it out.
In set two, after recovering an early break, Koolhof and Skupski secured their third break of the match at love to clinch their final place.
They will take on fifth seeds Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah after the Colombians beat Jamie Murray and Michael Venus, 7-6(3), 6-3. Cabal and Farah are through to their second straight ATP Masters 1000 final following a Match Tie-break loss of their own in the Monte Carlo title match.
Back-to-back ATP Masters 1000 finals 🙌
🇨🇴🇨🇴 Cabal/Farah battle past Murray/Venus 7-6(3) 6-3 & will face Koolhof/Skupski for the Madrid title. @juanscabal | @RobertFarah_ | @MutuaMadridOpen | #MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/67VYkUASsC
— ATP Tour (@atptour) May 7, 2022
The Colombians saved their lone break point of the match, which doubled as a set point against them 5-6 in the opening set. But after winning that deciding point, they took command by following a strong tie-break with an early break in set two.
The 19-time tour-level champions are seeking their first title of 2022 and their third at the Masters 1000 level.
Sunday’s doubles final will open play on Manolo Santana Stadium at 3:30 pm local time.
