At the Miami Open presented by Itau on Sunday, Austin Krajicek and Nicolas Mahut continued their smooth transition from doubles adversaries to partners.
Krajicek and Mahut, competing in their first tournament together, defeated Rafael Matos and David Vega Hernandez 6-3, 7-5 to go to the ATP Master 1000 quarterfinals. The unseeded pair, who are playing together this week since Krajicek's regular partner, Ivan Dodig, is out injured, followed up their stunning victory against Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic in the first round on Court 7 with a triumph.
Their victory over the Brazilian Matos and the Spanish Vega Hernandez was the result of a superb serving performance. In their 90-minute victory, Krajicek and Mahut served 10 aces, won 81 percent (30/37) of the points after their initial delivery, and held off four of five break points. Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni or Marcelo Melo and John Peers will be Mahut and Krajicek's next opponents at Hard Rock Stadium.