The Croatian pair Nikola Mektic-Mate Pavic, who won the Wimbledon Open tennis doubles game last year, defeated Heliövaara and Glasspool in the super-ice match in the match 3–6, 7–6, 10–6.
Roope Visuri,
Paavo Forsberg
19:35 • Updated 8:32 PM
Finnish-British couple Harri Heliövaara and Lloyd Glasspool suffered a defeat in the doubles final of the London ATP 500 tennis tournament. The duo faced a second-placed Croatian pair in the final Nikola Mektic / Mate Pavic.
Heliövaara and Glasspool took the first batch 6–3. The Croatians won the second set in a 7-7 (7-3) tiebreak. The solution of the match was transferred to the supertiebreak, where the Croatians were better 10–6.
The Finnish-British couple started the match strongly. Heliövaara saw accurate punches and a stunning rescue, after which the Finn floated on his back.
As the match progressed, the level of Glasspool’s game in particular began to clot.
Mektic and Pavic won the doubles championship at the Wimbledon grand slam last year. Heliövaara and Glasspool, for their part, played for the first time in the doubles final of the ATP 500 tournament.
– This means a lot, we were in the finals for the first time. We enjoyed every moment, Heliövaara said and thanked the enthusiastic audience in the field interview.
– The finals were grass tennis and doubles at their best. We didn’t lose any of our own feeders all week. It’s a pretty amazing performance. That’s when we often play far. I don’t mind, doing my best at every point, no need to mess around. Today we gave everything to the field and this result was earned.
– It’s awesome to win the championship. Next week we play in Wimbledon, the Croatians are in the mood.
The close pace of the match was impressive
Earlier today in the semi-finals, Heliövaara and Glasspool overthrew India Rohan Bopannan and Canada Denis Shapovalovin after the supertiebreak, in chapters 7–5, 6–7 (4–7), 10–4. The end of the match was played today as the game was suspended yesterday due to rain after the first set.
Heliövaara admitted that the close pace of the match affected the pair’s occasions.
– I had to be on the field a lot during the day. The semi-finals were really tight mentally. After that, there was a couple of hours to rest and play in the finals. It’s not an ideal situation, but we got off to a good start to the match, probably when we got a good heat on the semi-finals.
Heliövaara, 33, has won two doubles tournaments during her career. The Finn is ranked 37th on the doubles world list. His partner Glasspool, 28, is ranked 49th.
Updated at 8.30pm: Added comments from Heliövaara.