In front of a packed Wiener Stadthalle, Alexander Erler and Lucas Miedler pulled off an incredible comeback and defeated the world-class doubles team of Harri Heliovaara (FIN)/Henry Patten (GBR) 1-6, 7-5, 13-11. After winning the tournament in Antwerp last week, the two Austrians are now in the final of an ATP doubles competition for the second time in a row.

False start made up for

Erler/Miedler had a classic false start to the match. The Austrians only won their first game at 5-0 in the first set, but the set was gone with the next service game from the British-Finnish duo. From the second set onwards, however, the Austrians were in the match and led by a break for a long time. At 5-3, Erler was already serving for the set, but was unable to capitalize on three set points and had to accept the re-break. Heliovaara/Patten equalized, but at -:5 the favorites gave up their service again, which meant the Austrians won the set.

The duel was decided in the match-tie-break, which nothing for the faint of heart. Erler/Miedler initially found themselves trailing 1-4. Five points in a row gave the Austrians a 6-4 lead. Heliovaara/Patten came back in this phase and took an 8-7 lead. It now went back and forth, with the Austrians fending off two match points and converting their third match point to secure a much-acclaimed victory and progress to the doubles final of the Erste Bank Open 2024, where they will face the British-New Zealand duo Neil Skupski/Michael Venus on Sunday at 11.45 a.m.