Dodig/Krajicek Keep Match Tie-break Cool For Queen’s Club Crown

Julian Finney/Getty Images

Surface sweep completed in 2023 for Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek.

The Croatian-American duo lifted the trophy at the Cinch Championships on Sunday in London with a 6-4, 6-7(5), 10-3 triumph against Taylor Fritz and Jiri Lehecka. The second seeds delivered a dominant Match Tie-break display to claim their fourth tour-level title of the season. They have now won tournaments on hard courts, clay and grass in 2023.

“After the clay this was our first tournament, but we really worked hard and played good tennis,” said Dodig. “It’s a little bit easier when you play on the best grass in the world. I just want to congratulate Jiri and Taylor for a great week, and thank [the fans] for coming… It was really amazing and a pleasure to play in front of you.”

🏆 Champions in London 🏆

No. 2 seeds @DodigTennis & @AustinKrajicek prevail over Fritz/Lehecka to win their FOURTH tour-level title of the year! @QueensTennis | #cinchChampionships pic.twitter.com/UkoZTVeMzc

— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 25, 2023

Dodig and Krajicek did not drop a point behind their delivery in the Match Tie-break against singles stars Fritz and Lehecka to cap a strong overall serving performance at the Queen’s Club. The pair won 80 per cent (36/45) of points behind its first serve en route to a one-hour, 49-minute triumph.

It was 23-time tour-level champion Dodig’s first grass-court trophy. With his 11th tour-level title, the 33-year-old Krajicek ensured he will return to No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Doubles Rankings on Monday, a week after he was usurped by Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski.

“It’s amazing, it’s been a great week in London playing on the best grass court in the world.,” said Krajicek, when asked about his return to World No.1. “It’s my first time at Queen’s Club and it definitely won’t be my last.”

Dodig and Krajicek are now 22-5 for the season, and the first-placed pair in the Pepperstone ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings. They extended their winning streak to 10 matches after they backed up their maiden major crown as a team at Roland Garros with a title run on the London grass.