Indian Rohan Bopanna and Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas won their first ATP World Tour team title on Sunday when they defeated seventh-seeded Spaniards Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez 6-3, 3-6, 10-4 in 74 minutes in the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters final.
The crown is the the first of the season for Bopanna and Cuevas and the third overall for the Indian.
Bopanna, who adds to his Aircel Chennai Open crown (w/Nedunchezhiyan) this year, is now 16-24 lifetime in doubles finals and 4-4 in ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title matches.
Cuevas improved to 7-7 in team finals, also adding a second trophy in 2017 to his Rio Open presented by Claro run (w/Carreno Busta). It was his second piece of Masters 1000 silverware, adding to the 2015 Internazionali BNL d’Italia (w/Marrero).
“I’m really happy, as I didn’t started the season well,” said Cuevas. “I’m happy to win with my partner in the first tournament on European clay and I hope for a good run through to Paris.”
Bopanna said, “I’m really happy to win our first title together. I’ve come to Monte-Carlo so many years, it’s such a historic tournament. We had a tough start to the season, but it’s great to have won. We came through some close Match tie-breaks this week and it’s a good start to the clay season. I’m looking forward to the rest of the tournaments.”
Late on Friday night, they had won a tough three-set battle against Henri Kontinen of Finland and Australia’s John Peers to reach the semis.