Two titles in two weeks for Venus and Skupski

Michael Venus and Neal Skupski have made it back-to-back title wins on the ATP Tour and extended their winning streak to eight matches.

After taking out the Queen’s tournament last week, on Friday the Kiwi/British duo defeated Matthew Ebden and John Peers in the final of the Eastbourne event, winning 4-6 7-6 (2) 11-9.

The Australians had a match point at 9-8 in the third set super tiebreaker, but Venus and Skupski, who were the No 4 seeds, not only won that point, they bagged the following two to claim the title. 

Ebden and Peers also had a match point in the second set when the game at 5-4 went to a deciding point.

But that was typical of this final, with Venus and Skupski coming through in the big moments as they saved 11 of the 13 break points against them.

"It was a very up and down match, very tricky decisions," Skupski said. 

"Them boys (Ebden and Peers) played great for nearly all the match. 

“Mike kind of took over at 4-5 down [in the second set], hit some amazing shots. 

“He gave me belief, we stuck around and that is doubles really, it is fine margins. 

“It is great to come away with a win like that, it gives us confidence.”

That confidence should run into Wimbledon which starts next week. 

Venus and Skupski, who are the No 9 seeds, will play in the first round the all-Austrian duo of Alexander Erler and Lucas Miedler, who are both ranked 41 in the world.

Meanwhile, Erin Routliffe and Gabby Dabrowski, who are the top seeds, will play in the women’s doubles final on Saturday in Eastbourne.

In their semifinal on Friday they defeated Cristina Bucsa from Spain and Japan’s Makoto Ninomiya 6-7(2) 4-6 10-8.

In the final they will play Lyudmyla Kichenok from Ukraine and Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko.