Reynolds, Watt runners-up; Routliffe in final

Kiwis Finn Reynolds (left) and James Watt were beaten in the final of a Challenger in Mexico PHOTO: MORELOS OPEN

New Zealand tennis player Erin Routliffe and Latvian doubles partner Jelena Ostapenko are through to the final of the WTA's Charleston Open in the United States.

The top-seeded pair beat Americans Hailey Baptiste and Caty McNally 6-2, 5-7, 10-6 in one hour 37 minutes on the green clay.

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Routliffe and Ostapenko will face another American pairing, Caroline Dolehide and Desirae Krawczyk for the title.

Meanwihle James Watt and Finn Reynolds were beaten in three sets in the final of the US$100,000 ATP Challenger tournament in Morelos, Mexico, losing 5-7 7-6(5) 10-8.

The kiwis battled all the way against Antigua’s Jody Maginley and Alfredo Perez from the United States in a match that lasted for 90 minutes,.

It all came down to a break of serve at the end of the first set and the narrowest of margins in the super tiebreak.

Watt, 24 is protected to move his doubles ranking up from 301 to a career high of 260, while 25-year-old Reynolds will also climb to a career high of 174.