KEY POINTS:
Juan Monaco has already picked up US$22,000 ($28,120) for his top four finish as a beaten singles semifinalist at the Heineken Open.
This afternoon he can bank another cheque for the same amount if he and Luis Horna can win the doubles crown.
After what he remembers as his most hectic day on the ATP Tour, Monaco, 23, is through to his first doubles final. That, he says, is some compensation for bowing out to (now) singles favourite Juan Carlos Ferrero in the first of yesterday's semifinals at the ASB Tennis Centre.
"This is a chance to win something," said Monaco, who followed his straight sets loss in the Sovereign Singles with straight sets wins in the doubles quarter and then semifinals yesterday.
"A final is a final. You always want to play well."
In an all-unseeded final - it will be the first match on court this afternoon - the South American pairing of Horna, 27, from Peru and Monaco from Argentina, will play Europeans Xavier Malisse (Belgium), 27, and Jurgen Melzer (Austria), 26.
With four doubles titles between them, Melzer and Malisse will start as slight favourites but will have to get past the Monaco factor to win.
"I'm not a doubles specialist," admitted Monaco after he and Horna had won their semifinal 6-2 6-4 in 55 minutes over Argentine Sergio Roitman and Spaniard Nicolas Almagro.
"But I feel great. We have played together three or four times. We won once - in an exhibition in Houston."
The popular South American said playing three matches in one afternoon - between noon and 6.30pm - was harder mentally than physically.
"I was tired in the singles but I feel good now. Doubles is not so hard."
The crowd who stayed for the last match of the day were treated to an entertaining affair of big serves, hard-hitting ambitious shots and power plays with all players fully committed.
The change of rules makes for quick-fire matches.
If a game reaches deuce (40-40), the receiving pair nominate the player who will take the one serve. One point, game over, move on.
If the first two sets are shared, the match is decided in a best-of-10 point tiebreak.
Upsets are, more often than not, the order of the day.
In this tournament no seeded pairing won a match.
