Back-to-back glory for Bolelli and Vavassori

Only the strongest pairs can retain their doubles title at the ABN AMRO Open.

Bob Hewitt and Frew McMillan achieved this feat in 1974 and 1975, our own Jacco Eltingh and Paul Haarhuis in 1997 and 1998, followed by Davids Adams and John-Laffnie de Jager in 1999 and 2000. More recently, Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zemonjic achieved it in 2009 and 2010. Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori have now also won bak to back titles in Rotterdam, becoming the fifth doubles team to retain their title at Rotterdam Ahoy.

Bolelli and Vavassori defeated the surprisingly strong pair of Ray Ho and Hendrik Jebens in the final: 6-4, 6-3.

. "We were warned,” admitted Simone Bolelli during the trophy ceremony. "They had already beaten us last month at the Australian Open. It’s our first title of the year and completely back-to-back as well” His doubles partner Andrea Vavassori was euphoric: "It will come as no surprise, this is one of my favourite indoor tournaments in the world. Real tennis fans come here to watch doubles. You certainly don’t see that at every tournament. I can’t wait to come back and defend our title again.” Taiwanese player Ray Ho and German Hendrik Jebens reached the main draw through qualifying and experienced the week of their lives. "You fully deserved the win,” said Jebens honestly, having been eliminated in the first round of qualifying last year. "I was here last year with my father, who told me I had to come back and play the tournament in Rotterdam. The week of my life, with three matches on Centre Court, what an incredible experience.”

In good company

With their victory in Rotterdam Ahoy, Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori claimed their seventh ATP 500 doubles title since the ATP introduced the 500-category status in 2009. The Italians now find themselves in quite a distinguished company: