Cash and Glasspool silence Vienna’s roar
Amid fervent cheers for their opponents, Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool delivered a masterclass in composure, securing the Erste Bank Open title and extending a season of triumphs laced with quiet resilience.
Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool returned to the winner’s circle on Sunday at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna, capturing their first title since early August in a display of unflinching focus. The British pair overcame Francisco Cabral and Lucas Miedler 6-1, 7-6(6) in the final of this indoor hard-court ATP 500 event, holding firm against a lively Austrian crowd backing Miedler, who had claimed the Vienna crown with Alexander Erler in 2022 and 2024. In a brisk 70-minute battle, they turned the partisan energy into an edge, their eighth ATP Tour title together underscoring a partnership built on mutual trust and tactical depth.
Weathering the crowd’s fervent push
The atmosphere pulsed with anticipation as locals rallied for Miedler, their cheers amplifying every point on the swift indoor surface where balls zipped low and rallies demanded split-second reads. Cash and Glasspool absorbed the noise, deploying their one–two rhythm of potent serves and aggressive returns to dominate the first set, using inside-out forehands to stretch the court and force unforced errors from the Portuguese-Austrian duo. Glasspool’s net play proved pivotal, his volleys cutting through the tension to keep opponents at bay.
In the second set, the match tightened into a tiebreak grind, with the pair saving two set points through disciplined defense and precise crosscourt passing shots that exploited gaps in the opponents’ positioning. Their ability to stay composed amid the roar highlighted a mental edge honed over a demanding year, turning potential pressure into propulsion.
“We knew it was never going to be easy. I actually watched Erler/Miedler play the final here last year, so I knew what the stadium was going to be like,” said Cash. “We had a lot of fun out there, really great to play in an atmosphere and great to get across the line.”
Best in the business @cash_julian and Lloyd Glasspool defeat Cabral and Miedler 6-1 7-6(6) to secure their eighth ATP Tour crown together.@ErsteBankOpen | #ErsteBankOpen pic.twitter.com/oIyKhcwwxl
— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 26, 2025
Rebounding from streak’s abrupt end
A 22-match winning streak had ended in the Cincinnati semifinals, injecting a rare note of uncertainty into their campaign, yet Cash and Glasspool responded with this seventh title of 2025, their Wimbledon triumph earlier standing as a pinnacle of grass-court prowess. Injuries had tested their endurance, but they adapted with varied underspin slices to disrupt rhythms on transitioning surfaces, maintaining a 55-14 record that reflects unyielding consistency, as tracked by the ATP Win/Loss Index. This victory, their first in nearly three months, reaffirmed their lead in the PIF ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings and secured qualification for the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin next month.
Glasspool captured the essence of their journey, emphasizing how setbacks only sharpened their resolve. “We had a really hot season, then injuries here and there, so it’s great to keep the winning going throughout the year, showing why we are the top team in the world,” he noted. The win eased lingering strains, allowing them to carry forward a sense of renewed momentum into the indoor swing’s final stretch.
Pivoting toward Paris with sharpened edge
Next up is the Paris Masters, where Glasspool reached the final last year alongside Adam Pavlasek on similar fast hard courts that reward bold net rushes and deep returns. Cash and Glasspool’s tactical versatility—blending down-the-line passes with slice serves to counter aggressive baselines—positions them to navigate the event’s intensity, much like they did in Vienna against a fired-up home favorite. As the season nears its climax, this conquest not only extends their dominance but fuels a quiet confidence, priming them for the bright lights and high stakes awaiting in Turin.
