It took a big serve, a crucial volley, and a change of momentum that never reversed — Yuki Bhambri and Michael Venus saved two set points in the first set against Cerundolo and Kestelboim, found their footing, and then ran away with the second to open their Roland Garros doubles campaign with a 7-5, 6-2 win.
The first set against the all-Argentine pair of Cerundolo and Kestelboim was a tight, scrappy affair that could have gone either way. Bhambri’s forehand was sharp early, Venus was a constant threat at the net, and the pairs traded breaks and holds without either side pulling decisively clear.
But at 4-5 down, Bhambri/Venus found themselves staring down two set points. Venus came up with a big second serve to claw back the first, then Bhambri produced a volley to erase the second. From 5-5, Bhambri’s return broke Cerundolo and Kestelboim in the next game, and Venus served it out to take the set 7-5.
The second set told a different story entirely. Bhambri and Venus broke in the opening game with some aggressive returning — 0-40 and the game was gone before the Argentines found their footing. From there, the pair didn’t let up. Another break came with sharp net play from Venus to make it 5-2, and he closed the set out in style — two clean forehands followed by a piece of brilliant net play to seal it 6-2.
The result puts Bhambri and Venus into the last 32, where they will face either fifth seeds Bolelli & Vavassori of Italy, or the Australian-Argentine combination of Duckworth & Trungelliti.