New Zealand doubles player Michael Venus and Britain's Neal Skupski have captured their first title as a team at the cinch Championships at the Queens Club.
They had to scrap their way past singles stars Taylor Fritz and Karen Khachanov 4-6, 7-6(5), 10-8.
The seventh seeds played fearlessly in the crucial moments, closing the net and striking heavy returns.
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Venus and Skupski won 88 per cent (37/42) of their first-serve points and raised their level in the Match Tie-break to triumph in London after 77 minutes.
"It has been very special," Skupski said. "First time winning at Queen's, first time winning with Mike. We went to University together and we go back a long way. We have never been able to play on Tour much together, so this was nice to play with him."
The Briton and Kiwi, who were teaming in just their third tour-level event together, were impressive throughout their run at the ATP 500.
They defeated second seeds Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury in the quarter-finals and downed 2023 champs Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek in the last four, not dropping a set in either match.
Skupski, 34, is the first Briton to win the doubles title at Queen’s since Andy Murray won with Feliciano Lopez in 2019. Venus, 36, is the first player from New Zealand to win the title in the Open Era (since 1968).
It was the 23rd career doubles title for Venus who will see his ATP ranking move from 26 back into the top 20 again.
The pair are entered in the Eastbourne ATP tournament this week as the final build up for Wimbledon.