Mirnyi/Oswald Triumph In New York
Sunday was already special for Max Mirnyi, as the Belarusian was competing in his 100th combined tour-level final.
But it got better for the 40-year-old, who partnered Philipp Oswald to defeat Wesley Koolhof and Artem Sitak 6-4, 4-6, 10/6 in one hour, 29 minutes at the inaugural New York Open.
"I'm thrilled that we got through," Mirnyi said. "A couple tough matches. I felt like the match yesterday we kind of got lucky towards the end. They were a better team than us. Today was maybe 50-50 and there was definitely some magic for us in New York. I'm thrilled about that."
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It is the pair’s second title together (2017 Moscow) in their third final (l. 2018 Auckland). Mirnyi will leave New York with his 51st tour-level doubles trophy (51-45) and Oswald his seventh (7-4).
"I'm obviously also really happy to get my second title with 'The Beast'," Oswald said. "For me it's like being in university. He's my teacher... I think this tournament is really important for us for the next weeks with the big tournaments coming up."
Mirnyi and Oswald advanced to the final at the ASB Classic in the second week of the season, but fell in a Match Tie-Break against Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic, who have won three tour-level titles in 2018.
From 4/3 in the Match Tie-Break, the champions won five of six points to open a 9/4 lead that they would not relinquish. The pair won their final nine points on serve in the match. Mirnyi and Oswald landed 76 per cent of first serves in the final, saving seven of eight break points they faced.
The pair earns 250 ATP Doubles Rankings points and a split of $36,230. Koolhof and Sitak, who were pursuing their first ATP World Tour title together in their third final (2017 Atlanta, 2017 Metz) claim 150 points and a share of $19,040.
