Mixed new for Kiwis in the US

Marcus Daniell has reunited with former Marcelo Demoliner and the Kiwi/Brazilian combination have battled through to the quarter finals at the ATP Tour’s Winston-Salem Open.

They have beaten New Zealand born Ben McLachlan who represents Japan and his South African partner Raven Klaasen 6-3, 4-6, 10-4 in 1 hour 27. Daniell and Demoliner who have played together in the past have reunited for this week and the US Open starting next week.

Meanwhile Erin Routliffe and Aldila Sutjiadi have been beaten in the first round at the WTA tournament in Chicago. They’ve lost a close match 6-3, 4-6, 11-9 in 1 hour 32 to fourth seeds, Ukraine’s Lyudmyla Kichenok and Japan’s Makoto Ninomiya.

The match was played over two days due to darkness ending play yesterday at 4-4 in the second set. Routliffe and Sutjiadi won the first two games to clinch the second set but succumbed in the match tie break.