Defending duo denies Italians in Turin’s tense finale

In the crisp confines of Turin’s Inalpi Arena, where the Nitto ATP Finals draw their round-robin curtain, the already-eliminated Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz stepped up for one last stand in the Peter Fleming group. Last year’s champions, the Germans had stumbled through their opening two matches, their impressive 42-18 seasonal ledger—capped by triumphs in Shanghai and Halle—now shadowed by a 1-2 fate in this elite draw. Facing Italians Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori, who had locked up the group lead with back-to-back wins, the encounter carried no stakes beyond personal pride, yet it unfolded with the intensity of a championship decider, blending tactical duels and raw emotion under the arena’s focused lights.

Navigating pressure in the tiebreaks

The first set stretched to a 7-6(5) tiebreak, where Krawietz’s inside-out forehand returns pinned the Italians deep, disrupting their crosscourt rhythm and forcing unforced errors on the indoor hardcourt’s low bounce. Puetz complemented with underspin slices that slowed the pace, buying time for his partner to poach at the net and convert a pivotal one-two punch. Though the second set fell 4-6 as Bolelli and Vavassori ramped up down-the-line volleys to exploit gaps, the Germans’ adjustments kept the crowd engaged, their murmurs building with each extended rally.

Devoid of qualification drama, the match still crackled with the psychological weight of a winding season, the Italians’ poaching aggression clashing against the duo’s deeper baseline positioning. Vavassori‘s flat returns tested Puetz‘s reflexes, but the German’s reflex lobs neutralized the pressure, setting up crosscourt winners that echoed their championship form from a year ago. This back-and-forth, lasting one hour and 57 minutes, transformed a consolation bout into a showcase of doubles’ mental endurance.

Clutch save ignites the comeback

The decider forced a match tiebreak at 6-6, tension peaking at 9-10 when Bolelli and Vavassori earned match point on a sharp inside-in forehand that skimmed the line. Krawietz and Puetz, drawing on the grit that defined their Turin triumph last year, scrambled desperately—Puetz tipping a reflex volley just over the net, followed by his partner’s unerring crosscourt pass that silenced the home support. They surged to 13-11, the arena’s energy shifting from anticipation to reluctant applause, affirming the visitors’ refusal to fade quietly.

This lone match point save, amid the Italians’ fatigue from their dominant run, highlighted the Germans’ tactical evolution on the fast surface, where precise angles trumped raw power. The victory provided closure to a campaign of highs and hurdles, preserving momentum that could shape their 2026 preparations. For Bolelli and Vavassori, the narrow escape underscored their adaptability, propelling them toward Saturday’s semifinals.

Semifinals await amid tournament surge

Undeterred, the Italians advanced to the last four, their group-topping poise intact despite the late rally from across the net. They will meet the winner of the evening’s doubles showdown between Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool and Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos, a matchup brimming with contrasting styles on the indoor courts. As the Nitto ATP Finals accelerate toward its climax, Krawietz and Puetz depart with heads high, their defiant stand a reminder that even in defeat’s shadow, doubles delivers its most vivid lessons in resilience and resolve.