Australian Open: German-Austrian duel in the double semi-final

Oliver Marach’s and Mate Pavic’s run of success continues: After a win against Marcus Daniell and Dominic Inglot, the two of them are now in the final round against Jan-Lennard Struff and Ben Mclachlan.

Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic continue to march after their triumphs in Doha and Auckland at the beginning of the year, beating Marcus Daniell and Dominic Inglot 6-4,6-7 (10) and 7-6 (5) in an extremely close match.

In the first set, a single break – and this in the first set – made the difference in favor of Marach/Pavic – it was supposed to be the only break in the entire match. The players on both sides were too dominant. Good returns and longer rallies remained the absolute exception.

Marach and his Croatian partner were trailing 0:5 in the tiebreak of the second set – only to score six points in a row. However, the two-time tournament winners in 2018 were unable to use their first match point, not even the second and third. Inglot did it at the 22nd. Point of the tiebreak better, Marach’s pass-ball attempt with a backhand volley put an unreachable one on the line.

In the final set, the service went back to the short decision. This time Marach won the first mini-break to 2:0 with a forehand return, Pavic served safely to 4:1. New Zealander Daniell and the Briton Inglot came in at 3-4, with a strong backhand volley of Daniell’s to retrieve the mini-break from Marach. The Styrian returned the favour with a high backhand return, which still sunk into the field. Daniell/Inglot were able to repel the fourth match point, but after 2:40 hours Pavic served out to the semi-finals.

Two surprise guests are waiting for the winners in the final round with Jan-Lennard Struff and Ben Mclachlan: The German Davis Cup player and his Japanese partner had already kicked the tournament favourites Marcelo Melo and Lukasz Kubot out of the tournament on Tuesday.

Here is the men’s double tableau