Venus and Puetz off to winning start in Halle as Daniell reaches the Queen's semi finals

New Zealand’s top ranked doubles player Michael Venus and his new partner Germany’s Tim Puetz have won their opening doubles match together to reach the quarter finals at the ATP 500 grass court tournament in Halle in Germany.

Venus and Puetz joined forces after the French Open after Venus decided last month to end his partnership with Australian John Peers.  

The third seeds have beaten lucky losers from qualifying, Germans Yannick Hanfmann and Dominik Koepfer, 7-6 (1) 6-2 in 1 hour 17 minutes. It was an impressive opening performance from the new combination who have been friends since playing each other in their college days in the US. Venus and Puetz face Americans Austin Krajicek and Sam Querrey for a place in the semis.

Meanwhile across the English Channel Marcus Daniell and his Austrian partner Philipp Oswald are through to the semi finals at the ATP 500 tournament at the Queens Club in London. They have stunned second seeded Colombians Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah 4-6, 6-2, 10-6 in an hour and 17 minutes. They will face French Open champions Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut for a place in the final.

Paige Hourigan has won a marathon second round singles match at the US $25,000 ITF tournament in Sunter in South Carolina. She has beaten American Marta Mateas 7-6 (4) 7-5 in two hours 36 minutes.

Ajeet Rai has been beaten in his second-round match at the ITF US $15,000 tournament in Monastir in Tunisia, He has lost an epic encounter with Argentine Santiago Rodriguez Taverna 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (1) in two hours 38 minutes.