Liverpool brothers Neal and Ken Skupski eased into the second round of the Australian Open overnight with a 6-3 6-2 win against unseeded duo Hubert Hurkacz and Felix Auger Aliassme.
The brothers, who have rekindled their partnership in Melbourne, took command of the first set by winning Hurkacz and Aliassme’s second service game.
They stood firm on serve, with Neal’s overhead smash at the net clinching the set.
The writing was on the wall for Pole Hurkacz and Canadian Aliassme when the Skupskis secured an immediate second-set break.
They would break again for a 4-1 lead before an ace from Neal, just their second of the match, wrapped-up the convincing victory on Court 12.
The win sets-up a Round Two meeting with Brisbane-born John Millman and Brazil’s Thiago Monteiro.
This is Monteiro’s first appearance in the Men’s Doubles at a Grand Slam and only Millman’s fifth.
The Skupski brothers impressively reached the last eight of this tournament last year.
(Main photo by Carine 06 – Creative Commons Licence)
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