The Croatian duo of Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic won its third ATP Tour title of the 2022 season on Sunday with a comeback victory in the Cinch Championships final. The second seeds won their third Match Tie-break in as many matches to secure a 3-6, 7-6(3), 10-6 victory against Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara at The Queen’s Club in London.
“I was a little kid watching this tournament so many times,” Mektic said during the trophy ceremony. “This is my first ever match on this court and it really is like a dream to hold this trophy now.”
Pavic shared similar sentiments after claiming his 12th tour-level title with his countryman. “I haven’t played on this court since 2018, and it’s always a special feeling to be here, to play on this court,” he said. “It’s an amazing feeling and we’re happy to win the title.”
The reigning Wimbledon champions never trailed in the second-set tie-break or the Match Tie-break as they answered back following a lightning start from their opponents.
With Great Britain’s Glasspool and Finland’s Heliovaara buoyed by the support of the London crowd, the unseeded duo raced through the opening three games of the match with the loss of just one point. But their early break came on their lone break point of the contest as Mektic and Pavic began to find their range.
The Croatians created four break chances in the second set, but made their breakthrough in the tie-break behind a pair of early mini-breaks. Big serving and fast reflexes helped them maintain that advantage and send the match to a decider.
Champs at Queen’s 👑
2021 Wimbledon champions @NMektic & Pavic defeat Glasspool/ Heliovaara 3-6 7-6 10-6 to claim the Queen’s title!#cinchChampionships pic.twitter.com/67IJqajbFv
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) June 19, 2022
The Match Tie-break was a back-and-forth affair, with Mektic/Pavic again scoring a pair of early mini-breaks only for Glasspool/Heliovaara to get back on serve at 5-6. The Croatians brought up match point with more strong work on serve and at net, and won a lengthy rally to seal the title. They closed by winning four of the match’s final five points, including the last three.
Mektic and Pavic completed their first season together in 2021 as the No. 1 team in the Pepperstone ATP Doubles Team Rankings, winning nine titles including the Tokyo Olympics and three ATP Masters 1000s. With Sunday’s victory, they improved to 90-24 as a team, including 12-5 in finals and 15-1 on grass.
Source Tennis – ATP World Tour
