Murray brothers Andy, Jamie win DC doubles opener

Brothers Andy and Jamie Murray advanced to the quarterfinals of the doubles draw with a win at the Citi Open on Wednesday.

The Scottish brothers beat France’s Nicolas Mahut and Edouard Roger-Vasselin 6-4 6-7(7) [10-5], rallying to win on their fourth match point.

Former No. 1-ranked Andy Murray and his brother, who was once ranked No. 1 in doubles, are teaming up for the first time since the Davis Cup World Group semifinals in September 2016.

Winners are grinners ????

????: @jamie_murray | #CitiOpen pic.twitter.com/pvqZa9y4Rv

— ATP Tour (@ATP_Tour) July 31, 2019

“It was a good atmosphere. It felt like there were some good points and quick reactions out there,” Andy Murray told atptour.com.

“I’m in a much better place than I was last year. Physically, I’m so much better now. To be competing again and pain-free is brilliant.”

Also in a buoyant mood was Jamie, who collected his 400th tour-level doubles victory with the win over the French duo.

The field at the Citi Open features the top 10 doubles players in the world.

In singles action, it was a day for the ATP’s rising stars to shine.

Top-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas beat wildcard Tommy Paul 6-3 7-5 while 18-year-old Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, the No.9 seed, beat Reilly Opelka in three sets.

Nick Kyrgios got past 11th seed Gilles Simon 6-4 7-5 to join Tsitsipas and Auger-Aliassime in the last 16.

In other results, fifth-seeded John Isner topped Hubert Hurkacz 6-4 6-4 and eighth-seeded Milos Raonic defeated American qualifier Tim Smyczek 6-1 6-4.

On the women’s side, No.3 seed Sofia Kenin was upset by fellow American Lauren Davis 5-7 6-3 6-4, while No.8 seed Monica Puig led early before fading to a 2-6 7-6(5) 6-4 loss to Russian qualifier Anna Kalinskaya.

Jessica Pegula beat Iga Swiatek 5-7 6-4 6-1 while former top-10 player Kristina Mladenovic stopped local teenaged wildcard Hailey Baptiste in three sets.

Kenin’s exit followed a stunning Tuesday when top-seeded Sloane Stephens, second seed Madison Keys and Wimbledon star Coco Gauff were knocked out of the tournament.