Rafael Matos and David Vega Hernandez competed as a team for the first time last week in Marbella on the ATP Challenger Tour. On Saturday at the Hassan II Grand Prix, they crowned their debut as a team on the circuit with a title.

The Brazilian/Spanish duo beat Andrea Vavassori and Jan Zielinski, 6-1, 7-5, in the Marrakech final. After dominating the first set, the champions were trailing by a break in the second but picked up two sudden-death break points – including one on match point – to clinch victory. The first sudden death point doubled as a set point for Vavassori and Zielinski serving at 5-4.

Matos, the world No. 68 in doubles, won his third ATP Tour title and his second in 2022, both previous triumphs alongside fellow Brazilian Felipe Meligeni Rodrigues Alves.

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The Marrakech title was a second tour-level crown for Vega Hernandez, 27, who won his first title last season at Umag alongside Brazil’s Fernando Romboli.

“We lost our first set 2-6 this week so we didn’t get off to a good start and so it’s even more special to stand here with the trophy,” said the Spaniard. “I also want to congratulate Andrea who is a good friend, and I’m always happy to share a court with him.”

This opening set was the only one the champions dropped this week. After advancing to the second round in a Match Tie-break, they won three straight sets. Matos and Vega Hernandez’s semi-final victory over Aleksandr Nedovyesov and Aisam ul-Haq Qureshi avenged a loss to this pair a week ago in Marbella.