Match Report
Resurgent Heliovaara/Patten crush Koolhof/Mektic dream in Turin
Seventh seeds get rid of 2020 champions to high Mike Bryan Group
November 14, 2024
Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour
Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten transfer to 3-0 within the Mike Bryan Group on the Nitto ATP Finals.
By Jerome Coombe
Wimbledon champions Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten had little time for sentiment on Thursday on the Nitto ATP Finals.
The seventh seeds produced an impressed comeback over 2020 champions Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektic to get rid of them from the season finale. Heliovaara and Patten, who prevailed 4-6, 6-3, 12-10, maintained their excellent 3-0 begin to their crew debut in Turin and ensured that they completed high of the Mike Bryan Group.
“Happy is an understatement, three wins within the group stage is precisely what we wished,” stated Heliovaara. “However, in fact, you need to play fairly effectively to attain that. Within the Match Tie-break at present, we stated to one another ‘That is nice tennis, let’s take pleasure in it’. Even when we misplaced some extent right here or there, it was nice to be part of that [battle].”
Mike Bryan Group WINNERS ☝️👊
No. 3 seeds Harri Heliovaara & Henry Patten spherical off group play undefeated!#NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/S11ciYeBuI
— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 14, 2024
Koolhof, decided to remain alive within the last ATP Tour occasion of his profession, rallied with Mektic from 5/8 to degree the Match Tie-break and ignite hopes of a revival. Heliovaara and Patten, nevertheless, locked again in to seal a one-hour, 31-minute victory and assert their dominance heading into the knockout phases.
“I didn’t assume I used to be going to finish my profession like that, clearly blended feelings,” stated Koolhof, who has received 21 tour-level titles. “It’s been a pleasure to play on the Tour for the previous 20 years, so thanks all for taking the time to come back out right here. Thanks, in fact, to Mekta for enjoying with me in my last yr. It’s been a dream to complete my profession in Turin on the Nitto ATP Finals, so I’m very grateful and completely happy to do it right here, regardless that we didn’t make it at present.”
The ultimate match within the Mike Bryan Group will determine who joins the Finnish-British duo within the final 4. Australians Max Purcell/Jordan Thompson will qualify in the event that they defeat second seeds Marcel Granollers/Horacio Zeballos, whatever the rating. If the Spanish-Argentine duo seal victory in straight units, they may guide their ticket for the semi-finals for a second consecutive yr.
Koolhof and Mektic’s depth contained in the Inalpi Enviornment was palpable from the outset. They dismantled Patten’s serve within the opening recreation and didn’t look again in an assured opening set, throughout which they received 16 out of 17 factors behind their first deliveries, in accordance with Infosys ATP Stats.
The momentum started to shift within the second set, nevertheless, because the seventh seeds started to seek out their vary on return. Heliovaara and Patten displayed the tennis that has pushed them to success this yr, and had been in no temper to roll over. They carried their type into the Match Tie-break, the place they averted a late wobble to maneuver 2-1 forward of their Lexus ATP Head2Head collection.
