Venus ready for ATP World Tour Finals shot

Sunday, 15 November 2020

New Zealand’s Michael Venus and his Australian partner John Peers begin their campaign tomorrow night at the ATP Finals in London. 

Venus and Peers have been drawn in the Bob Bryan Group and play 4thseeds Marcel Granollers (Spain) and Horacio Zeballos (Argentina) in their first-round robin match at the 02 Arena Midday UK time Monday (1am NZT Tuesday) 

Venus and Peers also face top seeds Mate Pavic (Croatia) and Bruno Soares (Brazil) and 7thseeds, Austrian Jurgen Melzer and Frenchman Edouard Roger-Vasselin in their remaining Group matches. 

The top two teams from each of the two Groups advance to the semi-finals. 

Venus and Peers are seeded 6thfor the tournament with their highlights this year being ATP 500 titles in Dubai and Hamburg and an ATP 250 title in Antwerp. They reached the semi-finals at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Rome where they lost to Zeballos and Granollers 7-6 7-6. 

Venus who made a late decision to stay in London to play the tournament due to issues with getting an accommodation voucher in quarantine in New Zealand, says he had Peers have prepared well. 

“We have been working hard on the court and are ready to go.” Venus said. 

The Kiwi is playing at the 02 Arena for the fourth straight year having won through to the semi finals with Ryan Harrison in 2017, the year they won the French Open doubles title. He played the last two years in London with Raven Klaasen and made the final last year. 

Venus thinks his experience puts him in good stead but knows their opening match will be extremely tough. 

“We know what to expect but these guys were top singles players who are now focusing on doubles. They are a tricky team who don’t have any holes in their game or things they can’t do. So, we are going to have to play well and try to create some opportunities and if they are there we are going to have to go after them.” Venus said. 

The 33-year-old Kiwi is hoping for a big finish to his season to boost his chance of ending the year ranked in the top 10 in the world which would secure him automatic entry into next year’s Olympics. 

“I have bought out some of my best tennis here over the years so hopefully can look forward to some more of that.” Venus said. 

 

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