Nestor and Zimonjic seal Sydney title
Ross and Jordan edged out in final…
Ross Hutchins and Jordan Kerr fell to top seeds Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic 6-3 7-6(5) in the final of the Medibank International.
The Anglo-Aussie duo, playing their sixth tour event and second final together, held break points and even a set point in the second set, but could not prevent the world No.2 pair from clinching their 17th title together in 90 minutes.
Despite the defeat, Hutchins was in good spirits as he and Kerr made a sharp exit for the flight to Melbourne for next week’s Australian Open.
“They served a little better than we did throughout, but the crowd on Ken Rosewall Arena gave us a fantastic atmosphere out there,” said the world No.52.
“We’re feeling very good going into next week, doing all the basics well and feeling confident.”
The Canadian-Serbian team were ruthlessly efficient in the first set, dominating on serve and not facing a single break point while Hutchins and Kerr fell a break back before being broken once more to give up the set.
The second set was a closer affair as the Brit-Aussie duo made inroads against the top seeds’ serve.
Hutchins and Kerr twice lead by a break and saw a set point come and go, but couldn’t prevent the former No.1 duo from battling back and taking the set into a tie-break.
And the reprieved pair sealed the breaker 7-5, sealing the title and 250 rankings points. Hutchins and Kerr will bank 150 each after reaching the final.
