Friedl-Polasek Win First Team Title In Umag

© ATPLeos Friedl and Filip Polasek won their first ATP World Tour team title.

Czech-Slovakian pairing Leos Friedl and Filip Polasek won their first ATP World Tour doubles title together Sunday at the ATP Studena Croatia Open in Umag as they defeated No. 2 seeds and defending champions Frantisek Cermak and Michal Mertinak 6-3, 7-6(7) in the final of the ATP World Tour 250 clay-court tennis tournament.

The unseeded duo received 250 ATP World Tour ranking points and €21,650, while runners-up Cermak and Mertinak earned 150 points and €11,360 in prize money.

"It feels great. It's always a good feeling to win a tournament," said Polasek. "It was a special final for me today with a Slovakian playing on both sides. I enjoyed it a lot; it was a great feeling to win.

"Umag is a great tournament," added the Slovakian. "We're happy playing here. There's a great atmosphere with lots of Slovakian and Czech fans here on holiday. They gave us great support from the first round onwards, so I'd like to thank them for giving us energy and providing all the support."

Friedl and Polasek ousted top seeds and recent Wimbledon champions Jurgen Melzer and Philipp Petzschner in the second round and impressed in their first ATP World Tour final together. The Czech-Slovakian duo saved four of the five break points they faced and broke serve three times from nine opportunities to seal victory in one hour and 38 minutes.

The 33-year-old Friedl was contesting his 32nd ATP World Tour final and won his 16th title, his first since 2007 when he teamed with Cermak for victory in Stuttgart. Polasek, eight years Friedl’s junior, won his fourth ATP World Tour title in his 10th final; his last title had come in Bastad last year with Jaroslav Levinsky.

Czech Cermak and Slovakian Mertinak were playing in their ninth ATP World Tour doubles final together and dropped to a 5-4 mark. They won the Umag title last year with victory over Johan Brunstrom and Jean-Julien Rojer and both have strong individual histories at the event. The 33-year-old Cermak also won the Umag title in 2002, partnering Julian Knowle, while the 30-year-old Mertinak is a three-time former winner in Umag, also prevailing in 2008 (w/Pala) and 2007 (w/Dlouhy).