Huey-Inglot gains Citi Open semis

DEFENDING champions Treat Huey and British partner Dominic Inglot, gearing up for the last tennis Grand Slam of the season, made the semifinals of the Citi Open in Washington D.C. Friday.

The long-time partners trounced German Andre Begemman and Indian Rohan Bopanna, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), to advance in the top-tier tourney played on hard courts in the run up to the US Open in New York later this month.

The win lined them up against Julien Benneteau of France and Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia, who eliminated Santiago Gonzales of Mexico and Scott Lipsky of the United States, 6-3, 6-4.

Huey and Inglot made it to the quarterfinals after downing Britons Colin Fleming and Jonathan Marray, 6-4, 6-7 (7-5), 10-7.

Inspired by their Washington Kastles teammates, Huey, who was born in the American capital, and Inglot ruled the tourney last year beating Zimonjic and Michael Llodra of France.

Though not seeded this time, Huey and Inglot remain the crowd favorites in the meet which dangles $92,100 to the men’s doubles winners.

The duo are hoping for a breakthrough stint in the US Open after making the third round of the French Open and Wimbledon.

Huey, pillar of the Philippine team in  next month’s Davis Cup tie against New Zealand, is currently ranked 28th in the world, sliding four notches  from his career high of 24 last month.

Inglot, who like Huey is also 27 years old, is ranked 35th in the world.

They went on a roll in All England last month but yielded to twins Bob and Mike Bryans, who eventually captured the title, in the third round. Marc Anthony Reyes