Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic clinched their fifth tour-level grass-court title as a team on Sunday when they moved past Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz at the BOSS OPEN in Stuttgart.

The second seeds produced a strong serving performance at the ATP 250 event, winning 86 per cent (31/36) of points behind their first delivery to defeat the Germans 7-6(2), 6-3.

“It feels really good,” said Mektic. “We’ve been having a really rough year compared to the previous two so this feels really good. Really something that we needed, I think.”

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The Croatians have now captured 16 tour-level trophies as a team and two this season, also clinching the crown in Auckland in January. Pavic, 29, also triumphed in Stuttgart in 2022 with Hubert Hurkacz, while it is Mektic’s first success at the tournament.

“I love the tournament, it’s nice and they do a great job,” said Pavic. “In general I love to play on grass and we just keep lifting the titles on grass. It must be something that we like about it, and we’re happy to win the tournament, win some matches and get back on track.”

Home favourites Krawietz and Puetz were seeking their first title of the season together. Earlier this season, they also reached the final on home soil in Munich.

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