Marach/Pavic Survive Early Scare

Last year’s finalists Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic were forced to save one match point en route to the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters second round on Sunday.

The fifth seeds defeated Ben McLachlan and Jan-Lennard Struff 5-7, 7-6(4), 11-9 after finding themselves one point from defeat on deuce deciding point at 4-5 in the second set. Marach and Pavic saved five of seven break points to set a second-round meeting with Maximo Gonzalez and Horacio Zeballos. The Argentine duo beat Marco Cecchinato and Andreas Seppi of Italy 6-3, 6-4.

Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares also came from the brink of defeat to reach the second round. The third seeds saved three match points in a thrilling 24-point Match Tie-break to beat Rohan Bopanna and Dominic Inglot 4-6, 6-3, 13-11.

On Court 11, Karen Khachanov and Feliciano Lopez overcame Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau 6-4, 6-3. The Russian-Spanish tandem saved four of five break points to claim victory in 67 minutes.