Doppler/Horst secure place in knockout round after comeback win

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Important win at #HamburgMajor Center Court for Doppler/Horst today; Photocredit: Joerg Mitter

Even Einstein and Archimedes would have had trouble working out who would qualify from Pool G after two matches with all four teams winning one and losing another.

But to the delight of the Austrians in the big crowd on Center Court, Clemens Doppler and Alex Horst made it through to the knockout stages with a stunning comeback victory over Daniele Lupo and Paolo Nicolai.

It was a result that sent last week’s European Champions crashing out in the tournament’s first major casualty.

Lupo/Nicolai won the first set but Doppler/Horst picked up their game and fought their way back to earn a crucial win in a thrilling tiebreaker. Immer wieder Österreich!

“The points were really close, it was really difficult to calculate,” Alex Horst told us after his team’s epic win.

“It was a really strange situation because I think most expected this game to be all about who would win first place but we both lost one game in the morning so it was quite important.

“I’m happy we’ve won but sure we can play better. It’s good to beat the European Champions but it’s always good to beat them, especially in situations like this.”

And while it might be the first Major of the summer, he can’t wait for Klagenfurt in July… he is from Austria after all!

“We’re taking it one step at a time but of course as an Austrian to have Klagenfurt it is the highlight of every year, even though there’s the Olympics.

“Klagenfurt is Klagenfurt!”

I think what he’s trying to tell us he’s more excited about Klagenfurt than Rio!

If that’s the case, we couldn’t agree more Alex! We’re really looking forward to seeing you, Clemens and thousands of Austria fans down by the Wöthensee in July!

That’s some emotion right there! Photocredit: Joerg Mitter