Antwerp: Second seed Indian Rohan Bopanna and Matwe Middelkoop of Netherlands were denied the doubles trophy by the Dutch duo of Tallon Griekspoor and Botic van de Zandschulp, who scored a hard-fought 3-6, 6-3, 10-5 win in the final of the European Open.
Tallon and Botic earned 34,250 Euro and 250 ATP points. Runners-up Bopanna and Matwe got 18,320 Euro and 150 ATP points after Sunday’s final.
The Dutchmen fired eight aces and committed three double faults. They saved two out of three break points. Bopanna and Matwe served nine aces and saved three of four breakpoints.
Bopanna and Matwe got a crucial break in the second game to win the opening set by 6-3 in 25 minutes.
The Dutchmen hit back by clinching the second set after breaking their rivals in the eighth game to take the crucial 5-3 lead and held their serve to win by 6-3 in 31 minutes. In the match tie-break, the rivals were tied at 3-3 before the Dutchmen wrapped up the set at 10-5 and clinched the title.
Bopanna and Middelkoop were aspiring to claim their second tour-level title as a team, after winning the trophy in Tel Aviv earlier this month.
