Venus and Peers hit top form at Rome Masters

Michael Venus and his Australian partner John Peers are through to the doubles quarter finals at the Rome Masters after beating the Australian Open champions in the second round.

Venus and Peers have beaten the third seeds Croatian Ivan Dodig and Slovakia’s Filip Polasek 6-1 7-6 (2) in 1 hour 20. It’s an encouraging performance and result for the Antipodean duo who were playing only their third match together since the Australian Open in February. Venus took a break to head home for the birth of his second child.

Venus and Peers will face Germany’s Kevin Krawietz and Romanian Horia Tecau for a place in the semi-finals for the second straight year. Venus has also made the final in Rome with his former doubles partner Raven Klassen.

Marcus Daniell and his Austrian partner Philipp Oswald have pushed second seeded Croatians Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic to two tie breaker sets in their second-round encounter. Daniell and Oswald started well and led 4-1 in the first set. But the inform team of 2021 fought back to win 7-6 (4) 7-6 (2) in 1 hour 39.

Mektic and Pavic have won ATP Masters1000 titles in Monte Carlo and Miami this year and reached the final last week in Madrid, while the won the ATP 500 tournament in Dubai and reached the Australian Open semi-finals.