Tennis – Midler/Earler: No success at Joint Masters premiere

After Lukas Midler was allowed to make his ATP Masters 1000 debut with Britain’s Cameron Norrie (ATP Singles No. 12) three weeks ago in Indian Wells, California, Tollner returned to the court last week with regular partner Alexander Erler. The surprise winners from Acapulco made it to the main draw in the doubles of the Masters in Miami, and for the first time jointly sought points in the highest category of the ATP tournament.

Grand Slam winner at first

In the first round, the Austrian faced Colombian veterans and two-time Grand Slam winners Juan Sebastian Caballe and Robert Farah (ATP doubles 23/24). In the Colombians’ first serve game, Midler and Earler found their first, if only, break ball of the match, which they had left unused. As a result of the unused break opportunity, the Austrians had to give up their own serve in the next game to be trailing 1:2. “Then we watched all the time,” Midler said. After 39 minutes, the Colombians secured the first set 6: 4. The second round also began with anything but the Austrians. In the first game, Midler and Earler suffered another break after leading 40-0. “Of course, it hurts a lot,” says Midler. They soon fell behind with 0:4, from which the ÖTV duo could no longer free themselves. After 70 minutes they were beaten 4:6 and 2:6. “Unfortunately, we were never able to put our opponents under enough pressure,” Midler analyzed the first-round defeat. “They were simply better that day, especially on the comeback.”

In the doubles world ranking, Tullner drops two places to 45th place. Next week, Austria’s largest doubles will open at the ATP 250 Championship in Marrakech (Morocco).