New Zealand's top ranked doubles player Michael Venus and his South African partner Raven Klaasen have been knocked out in the quarter finals of the ATP500 tournament in Dubai.
The tournament's 4th seeds have been beaten 2-6 6-4 10-7 by Indian legend Leander Paes and American Jamie Cerretani. Venus and Klaasen had been in good form having won last week's ATP tournament in Marseille.
They made a strong start and broke serve twice in the first set. Games went with serve in the second set until the 10th game when Venus and Klaasen were broken.
The match went to a deciding match tiebreak and Cerretani and Paes were able to turn around a 4-2 deficit to win 10-7 and reach the semis. Venus and Klaasen will lament their failure to convert three break point chances in the second set.
Despite the defeat Venus will maintain his current Emirates ATP doubles ranking of 14 heading into the first Masters 1000 tournament at Indian Wells late next week.
