New Zealand tennis player Artem Sitak and his Dutch partner Wesley Koolhof are out of the Australian Open after being beaten in three sets in their second round match in Melbourne.
The New Zealand tennis player Artem Sitak Photo: PHOTOSPORT
With temperatures reaching more than 40 degrees, Sitak and Koolhof succumbed in three tight sets in two hours to the 7th seeds Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic.
The inform Croatian-Austrian duo have won 6-7 (5) 6-4 6-4 .Pavic and Marach started the year winning titles in Doha and Auckland's ASB Classic but were pushed all the way by Sitak and Koolhof.
Both pairs served well throughout with no breaks of serve in the opening set. It was settled in a tie breaker which Sitak and Koolhof won 7-5 after they had raced to a 5-0 lead.
Games went with serve until the 10th game of the second set when Marach and Pavic broke to take it 6-4. It was the same scenario in the final set when Sitak and Koolhof were broken in the 10th game to lose the set 6-4 and the match.
Sitak was philosophical after the defeat. "It was a very good match overall. A couple of points here and there made the difference. We had a break point in the third set but couldn't convert. They had one and managed to play a very good point."
"I am pleased with the way we are playing and already looking forward to upcoming tournaments." Sitak said
The result leaves just one Kiwi left in the men's doubles after Michael Venus's exit on Thursday. Marcus Daniell and his doubles partner Dominic Inglot play the French pair of Benoit Paire and Hugo Nys on Saturday.
Daniell says they are very dangerous.
"They are typically loose and flamboyant with lots of flair. They beat a tough team in the first round so we are just going to have to out doubles them." Daniell said.
"We did a lot of good things in our first round win and the only thing I think we need to tighten up is the first service game of the second set where we dropped our level."
