Watt and Reynolds save four match points to surge into ASB Classic quarterfinals.

James Watt and Finn Reynolds delivered a resilient performance under pressure that wowed Kiwi tennis fans as they saved four match points to advance to the quarterfinals of doubles at the ASB Classic.

The New Zealand duo defeated Sander Gille from Belgium and the Netherlands’ Sem Verbeek 6-4 6-7(2) 13-11 on Tuesday.

The New Zealanders made the early running, securing the only break of the opening set when Verbeek was serving at 3-3. 

With no breaks in the second set, the match moved to a tiebreak, where two points dropped on Reynolds’ serve proved costly as the European pairing levelled the contest.

In the super tiebreak Gille and Verbeek held the advantage for much of it. 

Watt and Reynolds were forced to save two match points with Watt serving at 6-9, before the contest tightened again, as Watt hit an incredible winning return on the next match point, in front of an increasingly vocal home crowd.

Despite finding themselves repeatedly on the back foot, the New Zealanders never felt the match had slipped away.

“You’re definitely aware that you’re not in the greatest position, but you always believe you can win,” Reynolds said. 

“You talk to any player here, they’ve all had crazy comebacks or losses, so you’re never out of it whatsoever, and especially in doubles.”

Watt echoed that mindset, saying the pair focused on competing for every point regardless of the scoreline.

“It’s not over till it’s over. You’ve got to play every single point as hard as you can,” he said.

The momentum finally turned late, with the Kiwis winning the final two points of the match to seal victory and spark celebrations from both players and the crowd.

For Reynolds, the win carried extra meaning after spending much of the year competing overseas.

“This is a dream come true, being able to come home and get a win,” he said. 

“To be able to get the opportunity to play is awesome, and then to be able to win a match as well and compete like that, it doesn’t get better.”

Watt said opportunities to perform in front of a home crowd were rare.

“We’re travelling 11 months out of the year, we don’t get many opportunities in New Zealand, so when we do, we want to make the most of it,” he said.