Saturday 28 January 2017

Peers and Kontinen Doubles Champions

The Men's Doubles final at the 2017 Australian Open featured the third seeds Bob and Mike Bryan (USA) against fourth seeds John Peers (Australia) and Henri Kontinen (Finland).
The Bryans had defeated Carreno Busta and Garcia-Lopez in the semis and Peers and Kontinen prevailed over Whittington and Polmans.
The Bryans had won six previous titles at Melbourne Park among their total of 16 GS men's doubles crowns.  They had been finalists another thirteen times.

Peers had been a finalist three times and Kontinen once, never having achieved ultimate success.  Together now, though, they are the in form doubles combination, losing only once in their last sixteen matches, including taking out the ATP Finals trophy at the end of 2016.

Kontinen/Peers won the toss and served,  Peers first.  Kontinen winner at the net and heavy serving comprised a love game 1-0.
Bob Bryan served next.  Quick hands from Mike but good return by Peers and winning volley from Kontinen brought up two break points.  One saved with volley winner.  Not the second and break for 2-0.

Kontinen serving.  Break point and double fault not what was wanted.  1-2 with Mike Bryan next to deliver.  Good intercept by Bob and 40-15.  Easy hold 2-2.
Ace from Peers.  Then another.  Good return forced error from Peers and 30-30.  A third ace for the game plus some sound volleying and ahead 3-2.

Peers moved smartly across to cut off the Bryans shot for 0-15, but good serving and reliable overhead from Bob squared things at 3-3.  Quick hands at the net twice from Peers and Kontinen held for 4-3.

Return winner from Kontinen, but missed volley chance by Peers at 15-15.  Mike Bryan held for 4-4.  30-0 Peers after a strange shot accidentally found a spot on the court no one was guarding.  An ace sealed a 5-4 lead for the team.
Service winner from Bob and 30-0.  Return winner from Kontinen.  Another one from Peers.  Big chance missed with a poor forehand from Kontinen.  5-5.

Good serving and sharp volleying 40-0 on the Kontinen serve.  6-5.  
Two set points arrived with great net play, and Kontinen continued to outvolley the Americans and break them to win the opening set for the fourth seeds 7-5.

1-1 in set two after comfortable holds by Peers and Bob Bryan.  The exchanges were some of the most exciting of the match.  Kontinen moved the score to 2-1 with solid serving in the face of attacking winners from the twins. 

A reflex volley winner off the Kontinen racquet was unable to dent the Mike Bryan serve. 2-2.  Two aces and another point winning delivery gave Peers easy passage to 3-2.

A stunning return winner from Kontinen had the predictable response from the Bryans who upped the ante to win four straight points.  3-3.  Great serving and slick volleying from Kontinen and 4-3.

Bob Bryan was volleying almost before the returns had been struck and this helped his brother hold easily 4-4
Peers took his team to within a game of the title with a serving clinic. 5-4.

Bob made sure the match continued with a love game 5-5.  Kontinen had 30-15 after a good serve ended up with the volley winner.  A slight wobble was steadied thanks to a couple of good serves and it was 6-5.

15-30 on Mike's serve. Two match points after a Kontinen winner.  One gone.  A lob winner from Peers won it. 

The Australian Open Men's Doubles Champions for 2017 John Peers (Australia) and Henri Kontinen (Finland) 7-5 7-5.

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