The top-seeded team of Neal Skupski and Wesley Koolhof face the fifth-seeded team of Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek in a group game at the ATP Finals on Friday.
The 2022 US Open runner-up team finds themselves in a spot of bother having won one match and lost another so far in the competition.
In the first match, Skupski and Koolhof bounced back from a set down to defeat the 2022 Australian Open champions Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 10-5. Kyrgios and Kokkinakis fired in a combined 24 aces, four times the number of aces Skupski and Koolhof managed. However, the top seeds had a better win percentage on the first serve of 90 compared to 80 from their opponents. Koolhof and Skupski locked horns with 2022 Wimbledon finalists Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic. The Croatian duo made light work of Koolhof and Skupski and won the match 6-4, 7-6 (7-3).
It has not been a memorable tournament for the American-Croatian duo. They have lost both of their matches in the tournament so far but can still qualify if they win their upcoming match and Pavic and Mektic do them a favor later on.
Krajicek and Dodig lost their first match against Mektic and Pavic in three sets 4-6, 6-3, 7-10. They fought back valiantly after losing the first set but Mektic and Pavic held their nerves to get the W. In their second match, Dodig and Krajicek failed to put away the Australian duo of Kyrgios and Kokkinakis when they had a 5-1 lead in the third set. Kokkinakis and Kyrgios won 9 out of the last 10 points in the match to get a 3-6, 6-4, 10-6 win.
Both teams have a lot to play for. While a win will be enough to take Skupski and Koolhof to the semis, Dodig and Krajicek will have to win and then hope the result of the next game goes in their favor. Skupski and Koolhof have played better tennis and should be able to put away their upcoming opponents.
Prediction: Neal Skupski and Wesley Koolhof to win in three sets.
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