Skupski & Koolhof retain title in s’Hertogenbosch
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British, Dutch duo Neal Skupski and Wesley Koolhof are back-to-back champions in s’Hertogenbosch having retained their title with a straight sets final win over Gonzalo Escobar and Aleksandr Nedovyesov.
Skupksi and Koolhof completed their week in Hertogenbosch with a 7-6(1), 6-2 victory in the final. A British player has won the doubles event in the last four editions of the tournament (Dom Inglot 2018 and 2019, Skupski 2022 and 2023).
The win marks their eighth title together as a team and first of the 2023 season. Last year, the pair lifted seven trophies, including three ATP 1000 wins. The also reached the final of the US Open.
The top seeds had to come from behind in their opening match against Matwe Middelkoop and Bart Stevens to win, 4-6, 7-6(4), 10-7. Kings of the tie-break, Skupski and Koolhof edged one of the matches of the tournament in the second round, recording a 7-6(4), 6-7(5), 10-3 victory against American team Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow in the quarter-finals.
It was much plainer sailing for the joint world No.2s in the semis, really hitting their groove as they booked a place in the final with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Maxime Cressy and Fabrice Martin.
The champions put in a strong performance to lift the title, clinching the final without facing a break point in just under and hour and a half.
Skupski and Koolhof will now head to London to compete in the cinch Championships.
