2010 Bank Austria Tennis Trophy: Saturday Doubles Preview
Eight professionals take to the court as they battle it out in the doubles semi final matches scheduled for Saturday. Since all four teams that made it to the semi finals are top seeds, an exciting and breathtaking display of tennis
can be expected in the semis.
Third seeded team of Polish, Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski mark the start of doubles play, as they take on the second seeds and defending champions, Polish Lukasz Kubot and local Oliver Marach. Fyrstenberg and Matkowski
have been partners on the court since 2003 with eleven titles to their name. They have one title win for the season though, at the AEGON International. They also have three runner-up positions this year. The team of Kubot and Marach, on the other hand has
five title wins in their career with two being in this season, one at Movistar Open and the second at Abierto Mexicano Telcel.
Kubot and Marach had a lucky run into the event as they sailed their way into the semifinals. Their first round match was against Colombians, Alejandro Falla and Santiago Giraldo. They humiliated the Colombians on the court with
a straight set win of 6-0, 6-4. Moving ahead into the quarterfinals they were supposed to face the Germans, Christopher Kas and Philipp Kohlschrieber. However, Kas and Kohlschreiber could not play due to Kohlschreiber’s right abductor injury. In effect, Kubot
and Marach obtained a walk over into the semis bringing them a step closer to a second consecutive title win.
The Polish however, earned their way into the semis having defeated the Brazilian team of Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares in the first round. They then defeated the team of German Michael Berrer and Dutch Thiemo de Bakker in the
quarterfinals to move into the semis.
Will Kubot and Marach get a chance to defend their title or will they be ousted by the Polish team?
The second matchup of the day is between the top seeded team of Canadian Daniel Nestor and Serb Nenad Zimonjic and the Austrian / Israeli pair, Julian Knowle and Andy Ram. Knowle / Ram are seeded fourth in the tournament.
World number two, Nestor and Zimonjic have twenty one titles to their name with five titles so far into the season including the 2010 French Open. They defeated the Italian team of Andreas Seppi and Simone Vagnozzi in the first
round to meet Philipp Marx and Santiago Gonzalez in the quarterfinals. In a three set match that followed, they ultimately claimed victory to move on into the semi final.
Currently ranking at sixteen, Knowle and Ram have no titles to their name. They are, however, last year’s finalists having lost the title to Kubot and Marach. Hoping for another shot at the title this year the pair will have to
bring their A game if they look to defeat the well co-ordinated team of Nestor and Zimonjic.
With the exception of Knowle and Ram, all the teams competing tomorrow have multiple titles to their names. Also since all the teams are top seeds, fans can look forward to exhilarating and electrifying matches as they battle it
out for a spot in the finals.
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