Sriram-Jeevan duo stuns fifth seeds to advance to Round 2

The Indian pair claimed the last slot in the Australian Open men’s doubles draw when American Mackenzie McDonald was forced to pull out of the doubles. Balaji and Nedunchezhiyan, who two weeks ago, came into the Pune ATP Tour event as alternates, went on to make the final. The duo, childhood friends, who communicate in Tamil on court, came out punching against fifth seeds Ivan Dodig of Croatia and Austin Krajicek (USA) to prevail 7-6 (6), 2-6, 6-4 in two hours and 20 minutes.
The clutch statistic of the match was in the breakpoints converted.While the fancied American-Croat team claimed just three of 12, the Balaji and Nedunchezhiyan combine nailed two of two. Three of those chances for Dodig and Krajicek came in the fourth game of the deciding set with Nedunchezhiyan falling behind 0-40 on serve.
“Making the final in Pune gave us confidence,” Nedunchezhiyan said, “We feel like we belong here.” They came together last summer, but started slowly losing successive Challenger first rounds, which only strengthened their resolve. “I remember when we made the semifinals of a Challenger after that (in Tunisia), we were so happy,” Nedunchezhiyan, articulate in his communication and methodical in manner, said.
Balaji and Nedunchezhiyan, fifth out of the draw, winged into Melbourne on a prayer. Nedunchezhiyan, 34, made the call for the team. He arrived a week ago and Balaji followed a few days later.
“You have to take advantage of playing in a Grand Slam if you have the opportunity,” Nedunchezhiyan said.
“I would hate to have been in a Challenger, seeing a lower ranked team take a spot in the draw here.”
The duo were all gratitude for Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna, who were at courtside for their match. Sania-Bopanna move up Sania, playing her last major, teamed up with Bopanna in the mixed doubles and got their campaign off to a strong start when they put out Aussie wildcards Jaimee Fourlis and Luke Saville 7-5, 6-3 in the first round on Saturday.