Stakhovsky-Youzhny Win First Team Title In Halle

© Gerry Weber OpenMikhail Youzhny and Sergiy Stakhovsky were playing just their second tournament together.

Unseeded pairing Sergiy Stakhovsky and Mikhail Youzhny won their first ATP World Tour doubles title together Sunday as they defeated No. 2 seeds Martin Damm and Filip Polasek 4-6, 7-5, 10-7 in the final of the Gerry Weber Open in Halle.

The winners of the ATP World Tour 250 grass-court tennis tournament received 250 ATP World Tour ranking points and €36,450, while Damm and Polasek added 150 ranking points to their tally and earned €19,120 in prize money.

Stakhovsky and Youzhny, who teamed up for the first time at Roland Garros two weeks ago, saved one match point as they battled past fourth seeds Michael Kohlmann and Jarkko Nieminen in the first round and then ousted top seeds Frantisek Cermak and Michal Mertinak in the semi-finals.

In a match featuring 15 break points, both teams were able to convert only one each of their opportunities as they split sets before Stakhovsky and Youzhny sealed victory in the decisive Match Tie-break after 88 minutes.

“I have to say thank you to Misha for playing with me here,” said Stakhovsky. “It was a great week for us. In the first round we saved a match point and then came all the way to the final to win. Today was a really tough match. The guys served unbelievable and didn’t miss many easy shots so I’m happy we won the match.”

“A final’s a final; it was tough,” reflected Youzhny. “Those guys have played many matches together and Sergiy and I were just playing our second tournament. I like playing with Sergiy; we have a good doubles team and I enjoyed this time here.”

Ukrainian Stakhovsky won his second ATP World Tour doubles title in his second final. The 24 year old won his first trophy two years ago in Moscow with Potito Starace. Russia’s Youzhny won his seventh ATP World Tour doubles title and his second in Halle, having triumphed in 2008 with Mischa Zverev.

After joining forces at the start of the year, Damm and Polasek were contesting their first ATP World Tour doubles final together. World No. 39 Damm slipped to a 40-23 record in finals, while Polasek, ranked one place lower, dropped to a 3-6 lifetime mark.