Murray/Venus Down Wimbledon Champs Koolhof/Skupski In Cincy

Jamie Murray and Michael Venus booked their quarter-final ticket at the Western & Southern Open on Thursday after upsetting top seeds Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski.

Despite failing to convert any of their eight break point chances, Murray and Venus held their nerve to oust the Wimbledon champions 7-6(3), 6-7(3), 10-1. The British-Kiwi duo won 45 of their 49 first-serve points.

“I think that’s a big win for us,” Murray said. “This swing hasn’t been fantastic for us, but in doubles, any week can be your week. You just have to be ready with the scoring and everything and how it plays out. I think after Toronto we put a lot of good work in and it’s paid off so far. We’ve played two really good matches. That’s all we can ask for.”

Currently 12th in the Pepperstone ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings, Murray and Venus defeated Serbians Nikola Cacic and Novak Djokovic in the first round and will next aim to continue their run against wild cards Lorenzo Musetti and Lorenzo Sonego after the Italians beat Toronto champions Marcelo Arevalo and Jean-Julien Rojer 6-4, 7-6(5).

Home favourites Christopher Eubanks and Ben Shelton, who played each other in the singles first round, downed fourth seeds Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden 7-6(4), 2-6, 10-7. Sixth seeds Santiago Gonzalez and Edouard Roger-Vasselin survived Max Purcell and Andrey Rublev 4-6, 6-3, 10-7.

Marcelo Melo and Alexander Zverev overcame Hubert Hurkacz and Mate Pavic 6-3, 7-5 after dropping just five points behind their first serve. Nikola Mektic and John Peers escaped seventh seeds Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz 7-5, 2-6, 13-11.

Winning mood 😃@BenShelton x @Chriseubanks96 #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/MztVagHC1x

— Western & Southern Open (@CincyTennis) August 17, 2023