The 2014 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals got underway today with a doubles match. Although I prefer singles, doubles has its own quirky appeal; however, the lack of media coverage for doubles makes it hard for fans to follow and get involved. Today’s match featuring the Spanish team of [TR6] Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez against the French team of [TR4] Julien Benneteau and Edouard Roger-Vasselin was a treat.  It was a highly competitive match that came down to a few unfortunate errors for the French team.

The Spanish team demonstrated great teamwork and Lopez’s exquisite hands around the net made a big difference in today’s win. Although the French team leads the head-to-head and went up a break in the first set, they could not consolidate.  As the Spanish team grew in confidence, the French team wilted under the pressure of uncertainty and the result was a 6-4, 6-4 victory for the Spanish team.