Falcons dominate the doubles as Hawks trail by seven points in World Tennis League
The Falcons won all three of the doubles encounters to move into a commanding seven-point lead over the Hawks, with two singles matches still to play
Iga Swiatek at the 2022 World Tennis League in Dubai
Image Credit: Imago / Panoramic
The Falcons have kicked off day one at the 2023 World Tennis League by surging into a seven-point lead over the Hawks, winning all three of the doubles matches to move 19-12 ahead.
Taylor Fritz and Sumit Nagal opened proceedings with a tight win over Hubert Hurkacz and Casper Ruud, taking the match on a tiebreak to nudge the Hawks into a one-point lead over the Falcons.
With a point being awarded for each game won, and a bonus point for whoever wins a deciding tiebreak, both teams were level on six points apiece heading into the breaker. Fritz’s superb serving was the difference between the two pairs in the end, as he and Nagal clinched a close tiebreak to take the extra point.
The American was straight back onto court for the second doubles match of the day, teaming up with Sorana Cirstea to face Hurkacz and Caroline Garcia.
The Falcons duo were an excellent pairing, with Fritz’s supreme serving once again providing the base for an excellent doubles showing from the Falcons. Cirstea was also in fine form, exhibiting her flat, powerful groundstrokes while covering the net well on the American’s serve.
Cirstea and Fritz broke twice to take the match 6-2, earning a second straight win for the Falcons and extending their lead over the Hawks to five points, with the scores sitting at 13-8.
entertaining women’s doubles clash extends falcons’ lead
Next up was the women’s doubles match, which saw world No 1 Iga Swiatek make her first appearance, teaming up with Garcia to take on Elena Rybakina and Cirstea in a thoroughly entertaining encounter.
The Falcons duo came out of the blocks quickly, with Rybakina’s breathtaking groundstrokes stealing the show early on to help seal a break. However, the Hawks hit back with a break back in the next game as Garcia and Swiatek showed themselves to be an impressive pairing.
But it was Rybakina and Cirstea who made the decisive move late on in the contest, breaking in the ninth game to move 5-4 ahead before Rybakina’s potent serving earned the Falcons a third straight win to complete a clean-sweep of doubles wins over the Hawks.
“We actually played really well,” Rybakina said following the pair’s victory.
“I think it was quite fun. I’m happy with my serve, it was a good warm-up for the singles. Sorana played really well, I think it was a really good match.”
“Playing doubles with Elena today was great,” Cirstea added. “I always say, she’s a sweetheart. She’s the sweetheart of the tour.”
At the end of the doubles matches, the Falcons hold a commanding 19-12 lead.
There is still hope for the Hawks, however, as two singles matches will be up next. First, Fritz will take on Ruud in what is a must-win match for the Hawks, before WTA rivals Swiatek and Rybakina face off in the final match of the tie.
