Granollers/Zeballos rule in Rome

Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos captured their sixth ATP Masters 1000 crown as a team on Sunday at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, where they defeated Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic 6-2, 6-2.

In a rain-disrupted final, the top seeds were dominant throughout. They won 81 per cent (26/32) of their first-serve points and saved both break points they faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats, to triumph after 69 minutes. Granollers and Zeballos lead Arevalo and Pavic 2-0 in the teams' Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

"It is always special to win a Masters 1000 title, so we are very happy with the way we played all week," Granollers said. "It was unbelievable how we played."

Granollers and Zeballos, who are joint No. 1 in the PIF ATP Doubles Rankings, have now lifted the trophy in Rome twice, having also won in 2020.

"I think we are like wine," Zeballos said. "We are getting older and we are getting better. We have a lot of confidence and have been playing well the last weeks and year."

The Spanish-Argentine pair was dominant throughout their run in the Italian capital. They did not drop a set, defeating singles stars Alexander Bublik and Ben Shelton in the semi-finals. Granollers, 38, has now won 26 tour-level doubles titles, while Zeballos, 39, has lifted 21.

Granollers and Zeballos are currently second in the PIF ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings. They reached the title match at the Nitto ATP Finals last season.