LONDON, Nov 1 : Australian pair of Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios have qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals as a doubles partnership for the first time, the ATP tour said.
The tournament to be played in Turin from November 13-20.
Kokkinakis & Kyrgios are the first all-Australian pair to compete at the event since Wayne Arthurs and Paul Hanley in 2005, when it was called the Tennis Masters Cup.
The Australians gained a spot under the Grand Slam champion provision, under which if there is a current-year major-winning team positioned between eighth and 20th in the ATP Doubles Team Rankings after the Paris Masters, that team qualifies for Turin in eighth.
Since Kokkinakis and Kyrgios are ensured of a Top 20 finish and Wimbledon champions Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell cannot catch them.
The duo will join Wesley Koolhof/Neal Skupski, Rajeev Ram/Joe Salisbury, Marcelo Arevalo/Jean-Julien Rojer and Nikola Mektic/Mate Pavic in the field.
Three places remain at the season finale, with fifth-placed Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos currently next in line to qualify.
Kokkinakis and Kyrgios made a splash at the beginning of the season, when they went on a dream run to the Australian Open title. The home favourites quickly rallied the Melbourne crowd to their side, defeating a lineup of top veteran teams, including Mektic and Pavic, before lifting the trophy with a victory against Ebden and Purcell.
The Australians played seven tournaments together this year, with an 18-5 record. (UNI)
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