Arribage and Olivetti Seize Auckland Doubles Crown
In a tight final under Auckland’s summer lights, Theo Arribage and Albano Olivetti turned ironclad serves into their first title of 2026, outlasting Erler and Galloway with tactical poise and unflinching focus.
In Auckland‘s steady evening warmth, Theo Arribage and Albano Olivetti stepped into the ASB Classic final carrying the weight of an undefeated run. The French pair had sliced through the draw without dropping a set, their serves humming with precision on the quick hard courts. Against Alexander Erler and Robert Galloway, they converted that form into a 7-6(2), 6-4 victory, claiming their maiden tour-level title of the season in one hour and 22 minutes.
Their dominance showed in every delivery, firing 12 aces and winning 79 percent (33/42) of first-serve points, as ATP Stats recorded. This marked their first ATP Head2Head win over the Austrian-American duo, built on returns that stayed deep and aggressive, forcing errors without yielding ground. The crowd’s murmurs built as the Frenchmen’s net approaches tightened the pressure, turning potential rallies into quick points.
“The good thing is that we are keeping it up, our service games. This week we got broken only once in four matches, which is pretty good,” Olivetti said. “We found a way and we are talking a lot about strategy and tactics [which] worked for us.”
Serving patterns lock down early pressure
On Auckland’s plexicushion surface, which rewards pace and placement, Arribage and Olivetti varied their deliveries to keep opponents off balance. They mixed wide crosscourt serves from the deuce side with down-the-line aces, creating a one-two rhythm that stretched returns and opened the net for poaches. That approach held firm through the tiebreak, where their heavy topspin second serves neutralized aggressive returns, preserving energy for the second set break.
Their mental edge stemmed from constant on-court dialogue, adjusting to Erler and Galloway‘s crisp volleys by targeting second serves with inside-out forehands. Only one break against them all week spoke to this evolution, honed in offseason sessions to handle the hard-court swing’s intensity. As the final wore on, their serves became a shield, converting the humid air into a stage for controlled aggression.
Steady nerves topple seeded firepower
The path sharpened in the semifinals, where the unseeded duo upset second seeds Francisco Cabral and Lucas Miedler, fresh off their Brisbane triumph. Arribage and Olivetti absorbed early power with deep returns, then countered with slice approaches that disrupted mid-court rhythm. Staying calm amid the seeded pair’s one-two patterns, they forged a straight-sets win that built unbreakable confidence.
“During the match, we stayed positive. We stayed calm. So I think it’s the part of the victory,” Arribage said. “We are very happy to win this one. I think it was a very good week for us.”
This breakthrough echoed their growth since partnering for the Almaty Open title last year, Arribage’s third doubles crown and Olivetti’s fourth overall. The Auckland crowd sensed the shift, cheers rising as the Frenchmen’s focus turned potential chaos into syncopated play. Their ability to stay positive reframed the week, blending baseline solidity with net instincts for a victory that felt earned.
Momentum fuels Australian Open push
With the Australian Open looming, this ASB Classic run positions the pair as quiet contenders on the hard-court circuit. Their tactical tweaks—aggressive poaching on short balls, exploiting flatter groundstrokes with topspin loops—promise adaptability against top teams. Erler and Galloway pushed hard, their net play forcing long rallies, but couldn’t crack the resolve opposite them.
Olivetti’s emphasis on strategy highlights the partnership’s strength: scenario planning that turns breakpoints into holds. As they head to Melbourne, the lighter burden of a title eases the grind, their serves now a weapon primed for majors. In doubles, where sync defines success, this Auckland edge sets a rhythm for the year’s chase.
