Defending Internazionali BNL d’Italia champions Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah were on the verge of a disappointing defeat Friday against four-time titlists Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan. But the Colombians rallied from a 2/7 deficit in a Match Tie-break, saving four match points to defeat the American twins 7-6(2), 4-6, 16-14, advancing to the semi-finals.
“It was a crazy match. You can’t expect less playing the Bryans. You know it’s going to be a tough match from the beginning until the end. I think this is one of the most epic matches we have played, and we have played a lot of them,” Cabal said. “I’m really happy to keep fighting… the fans really enjoyed because it was a crazy match with crazy points.”
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxo1DBhgzZc&w=560&h=315]
The Bryan brothers, who in Miami claimed their first ATP Masters 1000 trophy since Bob underwent hip surgery last August, appeared to have the momentum when they led 7/2 in the Match Tie-break with two serves to come. But the Colombians kept their heads up and battled until the end of the one-hour, 44-minute match.
“The Match Tie-break was the highlight of the match. I think we both increased our level to make it a very exciting match at one point. I feel like in the first set we were both not making many returns, holding quite easily,” Farah said, adding they gained confidence heading into the Match Tie-break from earning one break back in the second set. “It is kind of a coin toss.”
Cabal and Farah will next face top seeds Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo, who beat eighth seeds Henri Kontinen and John Peers 6-2, 6-7(1), 10-6 in one hour and 33 minutes. Kubot and Melo are pursuing their first title of the season.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhPA0CZxeeI&w=560&h=315]
In the other semi-final, fifth seeds Oliver Marach/Mate Pavic will play sixth seeds Raven Klaasen and Michael Venus. Marach and Pavic won two matches on Friday, defeating Brits Kyle Edmund and Neal Skupski 7-6(4), 6-0 after ousting Canadian Denis Shapovalov and Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 7-6(4), in the second round.
Klaasen and Venus battled past Argentines Maximo Gonzalez and Horacio Zeballos 7-6(4), 5-7, 10-7.
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Source: ATP
