Hutchins and Kerr hit hot streak in Sydney
Tricky first-round win puts duo into quarters…
Ross Hutchins and Jordan Kerr got their 2010 season off and running with a 6-3 2-6 10-6 victory over Eric Butorac and Rajeev Ram at the Medibank International in Sydney.
The Anglo-Aussie duo, embarking on a new long-term partnership in 2010, had to battle conditions as tricky as the opposition with strong winds flashing across the court throughout the match.
The conditions could have played into the hands of the two big serving Americans, but in the first set it was Hutchins and Kerr who dealt better with the elements, dropping just four points on serve and bringing up four break points of their own.
Butorac and Ram saved three, but the fourth was enough to clinch the first set. The second, however, was a different story as the Americans, looking much more comfortable on serve, found some joy against Hutchins and Kerr’s second serves.
Two converted break points sent the match into a match tiebreak, but a crucial minibreak at 4-2 handed Hutchins and Kerr the initiative.
From there the duo didn’t look back, downing Butorac and Ram 10-6 to seal a place in the last eight, where they await another tricky tie with No.3 seeds Lukasz Kubot and Olivier Marach, who beat Michael Llodra and Andy Ram 6-4 7-6(4).
“We played some good stuff in tough conditions – battling very strong winds and two big servers” said Hutchins afterwards. “But we made a strong start and felt sharp.
“It was pleasing to get the first win of the season on the board this early,” added the world No.52, who will next play on Wednesday. “It will be a tough match, but we’re feeling good after today’s win!”
