Chandigarh: Rohan Bopanna of India, and his French partner Bemoit Paire lost to eighth seed Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut of France in straight sets in the doubles first round match of the $ 4,299,205 ATP Masters 1000 Miami Open in Miami (Florida).
Herbert and Mahut won 6-3, 6-2 in 56 minutes on court No.5.
P. Herbert and N. Mahut broke the second serve of Rohan Bopanna for the breakthrough.
The French pair led 4-2 when Herbert and Mahut increased the lead by winning their service game in the seventh game 5-2In
In the eighth game, Paire committed two double faults but managed to win the service game (3-5).
Herbert served his first ace, second for the team and had three set points in the ninth game. Herbert/ Mahut clinched the first set at 6-3.
Herbert/Mahut broke Bopanna’s serve in the first game of the second set to take a 1-0 advantage. Hobert served in the second set as the French pair lef 30-15 before Bopanna-Paire made it 30-30 and had a chance to break Herbert as they led 40-30. Herbert and Mahut made it 40-40, first deuce. P. Herbert and. Mahut won the point on the second serve of P. Herbert to lead 2-0.
Bopanna and Paire won the point on the first serve of Paire to win the third game. Herbert and Mahut won the fourth game gaining a lead of 3-1.
With Bopanna and Paire winning the fifth game on Bopanna’s serve to make it 2-3. Herbert was serving in the sixth game and trailed 0-30 but levelled the score at 30-30. At 40-30 Herbert and Mahut enjoyed two game points and won the game for a 4-2 lead.
Herbert and Mahut won the point on the second serve of Paire for three breakpoints. Paire’s service was broken and the French combination was in a commanding position having gained a 5-2 lead.
Mahut served in the eighth game and led 30-15 and increased it to 40-30. Herbert and Mahut won the game (6-2), the set and the match.
Rajeev Ram wins in doubles:
In another doubles first round fixture three Grand Slam winner Rajeev Ram of USA, partnering Joe Salisbury of United Kingdom, defeated Austin Krajicek of USA and Franco Skugor of Croatia by 6-2, 7-6 (5) in one hour and 31 minutes.
Rajeev Ram, whose parents hail from Chennai, and Salisbury saved a crucial breakpoint on Salibury’s service (30-40) in the 12 game of the second set to make it 6-6. In the match tie-breaker Austin-Franco led 3-0 before Ram-Joe won their first point and took 5-4 lead before wrapping the match by winning 7-5 in match tie-breaker and the set 7-6 (5).
