Auburn Alumnus Tim Puetz Claims Nitto ATP Finals Doubles Title
Tim Puetz, a former Auburn men’s tennis star, secured the Nitto ATP Finals doubles championship alongside partner Kevin Krawietz on Sunday in Turin, Italy. The duo triumphed with a hard-fought 7-6 (5), 7-6 (6) victory over Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic in the final match.
The Nitto ATP Finals featured only eight of the world’s top doubles teams, divided into two round-robin groups. The top two teams from each group advanced to the semifinals. Puetz and Krawietz dominated their group stage with consecutive straight-set wins over Arevalo/Pavic and Simone Bolelli/Andrea Vavassori to earn their spot in the knockout rounds.
In the semifinals, Puetz and Krawietz faced Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden in a tense battle. After splitting the first two sets, the German pair won a nail-biting tiebreaker 10-7 to advance to the final.
The final match was a rematch against Arevalo and Pavic, marked by two dramatic sets. Puetz and Krawietz showcased their serving strength, clinching both sets in tiebreakers. A crucial return by Puetz set up the championship point, and despite a brief comeback from their opponents, the German duo sealed the win with back-to-back points.
With this victory, Puetz and Krawietz made history as the first eight-seed and the first all-German team to win the Nitto ATP Finals doubles title. The pair’s remarkable year also included a semifinal finish at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and a runner-up showing at the U.S. Open. Puetz also claimed the 2023 French Open mixed doubles crown with Miyu Kato, becoming the fourth Auburn alumnus to win a Grand Slam title.
During his Auburn career, Puetz earned All-American honors in both singles and doubles and remains one of the program’s most accomplished players, ranking among the all-time leaders in career victories.
