Williamstown’s Andrew Whittington and South Australia’s Alex Bolt are shaping up as a formidable young duo in the Australian Open men’s doubles.
Quarter-finalists last season after a incredible run, Whittington and Bolt wanted to prove they were no one-slam wonders, backing up last year’s effort with a creditable third-round finish at this year’s Open.
The pair was eliminated from the tournament in heart-breaking fashion at Hisense Arena on Sunday, losing in two nail-biting tiebreak sets, 7-6 (9-7) 7-6 (7-3), to veterans Pablo Cuevas, of Uruguay, and David Marrero, of Spain.
In the opening round, the shoe was on the other foot with Whittington and Bolt surviving two tiebreak sets to oust 15th seeds Marin Draganja (Croatia) and Henri Kontinen (Finland), 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-4) in an upset on outside court seven.
They progressed through to the third round with a three-set, 2-6, 7-5, 7-5, win over Jeremy Chardy (France) and Lukasz Kubot (Poland) on show court three.
The second week of the Australian Open will see all the champions crowned at Melbourne Park.
