By Chris Oddo | Thursdsay November 16, 2017
The defending Nitto ATP Finals doubles champs are still in the mix at the Nitto ATP Finals.
John Peers and Henri Kontinen eased past Raven Klaasen and Rajeev Ram on Thursday to book their spot in the semifinals of the Eltingh/Haarhuis group. The Australian-Finn duo improved to 40-17 in a season that saw them win their first Grand Slam doubles title as a team in Australia.
They needed a match tiebreak to secure the 2-6, 6-1, 10-8 victory over Klaasen and Ram, who were subbing in for injured Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut.
The all-French pairing pulled out of the competition earlier on Thursday, citing injury. Reportedly Herbert injured himself in practice while the duo was prepping for their match.
In the evening match, ATP Finals debutantes Ryan Harrison and Michael Venus finished off their undefeated run through group play with a 6-3, 7-6(5) over 2015 champs Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau.
Harrison and Venus will face the No.2 team from the Woodbridge/Woodforde Group, which could be any of three teams. Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo lead the group with a 2-0 record, but Mike and Bob Bryan (1-1) and Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares (1-1) still have a shot to take the top spot in the group.
Peers and Kontinen will take the No.1 in the group in Saturday’s semis.