Venus, Daniell and Routliffe ready for US Open campaigns
Michael Venus and his German partner Tim Puetz are the 12th seeds for the men’s doubles at the US Tennis Open in New York. They have been drawn against German Dominik Koepfer and Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori in the first round.
" I’m not sure if they have played together before but Tim and I played Koepfer in Halle earlier this year on the grass and that was a tight match there. He’s had a really good year in singles and Ruusuvuori is a young up and coming player who is playing well and we are going to have to be ready to go from the beginning.” Venus said.
The US Open is the least most successful Grand Slam for Venus who has made the third round just once previously. But The 33 year old Kiwi says his partnership with Puetz is going well and they are feeling good. “Now it’s just about going out and competing and getting some good results.” Venus said.
Marcus Daniell and his Brazilian partner Marcelo Demoliner have been pitted against Britain’s Dan Evans and Lloyd Glasspool and the Kiwi expects a tricky first round encounter.
“They're an interesting pairing, Dan is a world class player who also knows how to play doubles”. Daniell said. “I think he's made a couple of Masters finals this year with Neal. (Skupski) Glasspool won a tour event earlier this year, so we'll be ready for a battle. Demo and I have linked back up easily - having spent 2 years playing together in the past it's simple to fall back into the old rhythms. I think we can be dangerous here.”
Meanwhile Erin Routliffe has made it into the women’s doubles teaming up with 18 year old Canadian Leylah Fernandez. They will face American Christina McHale and Giuliana Olmos of Mexico in the first round.
The doubles draw will get underway on Thursday NZT.
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