Puetz/Venus advance in Stuttgart
The top seeds, who lifted the trophy in Montpellier in February, saved two set points in the first-set tie-break before sealing victory after 86 minutes at the ATP 250 grass-court event.
The Frenchmen will next play Raven Klaasen and Marcelo Melo after the South African-Brazilian team downed Belgians Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen 7-6(13), 6-4. Prior to this week, Klaasen and Melo last teamed in 2015, winning titles in Tokyo and Shanghai.
Mackenzie McDonald and Botic van de Zandschulp overcame Americans Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul 6-3, 4-6, 10-7. McDonald and van de Zandschulp are teaming for the second time, having reached the semi-finals in Doha in February.
They will next meet Julio Peralta and David Vega Hernandez or second seeds Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski. Koolhof and Skupski have captured a Tour-leading four titles this season.
Fourth seeds Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell also advanced, edging Alex de Minaur and Luke Saville 6-4, 6-7(3), 10-7 in an-all Australian clash. They will next face Hugo Nys and Edouard Roger-Vasselin.
Puetz/Venus March On In Stuttgart
Tim Puetz and Michael Venus advanced to the semi-finals at the BOSS OPEN in Stuttgart, downing Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi and Arthur Rinderknech 7-6(6), 3-6, 10-7.
The German-New Zealand tandem won the title in Dubai earlier this season and arrived at the ATP 250 grass-court tournament off the back of a run to the third round at Roland Garros.