Nailbiting final loss for Reynolds, Watt at Mexican Challenger

Finn Reynolds and James Watt put up a gutsy display in the final of the ATP Challenger tournament in Morelos, Mexico, losing 5-7 7-6(5) 10-8.

The Kiwis battled all the way against Antigua’s Jody Maginley and Alfredo Perez from the United States in a match that lasted for 90 minutes, and it all came down to a break of serve at the end of the first set and the narrowest of margins in the super tiebreak.

Reynolds won every point in the super tiebreak when they got their first serve in, but lost points on their second serve. 

Their run to the final included a dramatic 17–15 super tiebreak win in the semifinals over Francis Casey Alcantara of the Philippines and Thailand’s Pruchya Isaro.

Unfortunately for the duo, they were pipped in the super tiebreak this time, but it will still be remembered as a great week for Reynolds and Watt.

Watt is protected to move his doubles ranking up from 301 to a career high of 260, while Reynolds will also climb to a career high of 174 as the 25-year-old gets closer to making it into ATP Tour events.