In yet another thriller showdown at the European Open doubles championships in Antwerp, Greek duo Stefanos and Petros Tsitsipas emerged victorious, clinching their first-ever doubles title as a team.
The unseeded Tsitsipas brothers displayed determination and resilience as they battled past Ariel Behar and Adam Pavlasek, to take the match 6-7 (5), 6-4, 10-8.
The game began with a fierce exchange between the two teams, and the first break came in the third game when Behar and Pavlasek snatched an opportunity, taking a 2-1 lead against the Tsitsipas brothers.
However, their lead was short-lived, as the Greek siblings broke back in the fourth game.
The first set reached its climax when Behar and Pavlasek faced three set points but managed to push the set into a tie-break.
The tie-break ended up being a nail-biting thriller with both pairs evenly matched at five points each.
Behar and Pavlasek then secured the next two points, ultimately capturing the first set.
Despite dropping the hectic first set, the Tsitsipas bros initiated the second set with consecutive breaks into a 3-0 lead.
Although their opponents, Behar and Pavlasek, managed to break back in the fourth game, the Greek duo retained their second break, leading to the decisive third set.
Stefanos and Petros capitalised on their victory in the second set by gaining a 5-2 advantage in the match tie-break.
Behar and Pavlasek however, made another comeback, winning the next three points to level the score at five points each.
The Greeks showed resilience and great communication turning the set around to an 8-6 lead, only to see Behar and Pavlasek meet them at 8-8.
Even though the brothers showed signs of exhaustion, they maintained their composure and secured the next two crucial points, sealing a hard-fought three-set victory and claiming their inaugural doubles title in Belgium.
It is worth noting that the Tsitsipas brothers had never advanced beyond the quarterfinals of an ATP doubles event when competing together.
For Petros Tsitsipas, the win marked a historic milestone as he clinched his very first title on the tour.
Earlier this year, Petros expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to play doubles with his brother, saying that this was a dream they had since childhood.
“I consider myself very lucky to have this opportunity to play with him in the biggest events,” the younger Tsitsipas had said in a previous interview.
“I think that’s what every player dreams of as a kid, to be on such a stage and perform and experience so many emotions, so many nice feelings. Yeah, I cannot ask for anything else. That was our dream since we were kids.”
Meanwhile, in the men’s single final, Kazakh player Alexander Bublik delivered an impressive performance sweeping past France’s Arthur Fils to take the championship 6-4, 6-4.
This was 36th-ranked Bublik’s third ATP tournament trophy, a win achieved with his solid serving performance against Fils’ unforced errors.
Fils had been vying for his second title of the season after previously eliminating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semi-finals.
