On Day 1 of Madrid doubles trial, honours split between singles & doubles stars

Tuesday at the Mutua Madrid Open marked the start of a new doubles format trial on the ATP Tour, with changes including more singles vs. doubles action, a streamlined five-day schedule and a faster pace of play. On Day 1 of doubles play at the ATP Masters 1000, honours were split between singles and doubles stars.

Sebastian Korda and Jordan Thompson scored the result of the day with a 7-6(4), 7-5 upset of top seeds Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden. The singles players broke for the first time on their seventh break point, which doubled as a match point to clinch the upset. The American-Aussie duo saved the only break point against them, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori save all three break points against them to beat Daniil Medvedev and Tommy Paul . Photo: Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour

Doubles regulars Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori won another high-profile match by beating Tommy Paul and Daniil Medvedev 6-2, 7-6(5). The 12th-seeded Italians saved all three break points against them and closed out the match with a clutch performance in the second-set tie-break.

"It’s experience, trying to get ready for Olympics a little bit, to try to get the idea of doubles a bit more into my head," said Medvedev.

Photo by Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour.

Stefanos Tsitsipas has also spoken about his dream to compete in the Olympics alongside his brother, Petros Tsitsipas. On Tuesday, the Greek team was defeated by ninth seeds Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen 7-6(3), 6-1. The Belgians made 80 per cent of their first serves and dominated with a 90 percent win rate (35/39) on those points.

In a packed schedule of doubles action, with the entire first round in play, one of the shots of the day came from Santiago Gonzalez, who conjured up some tweener magic for a stunning half-volley drop shot. That hot shot earned Gonzalez and Edouard Roger-Vasselin the opening set against Aslan Karatsev and Zhang Zhizhen, but the singles stars regrouped for a 4-6, 7-5, 10-3 win.

Abdullah Shelbayh, who competed at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF last November, also scored one for the singles guys by teaming with Benjamin Hassan for a 6-2, 7-6(5) victory against fourth seeds Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek.