23 Feb 2016

Venus rises in ATP rankings

6:38 am on 23 February 2016

The New Zealand tennis player Michael Venus and his Croatian partner Mate Pavic are now the fourth ranked men's doubles combination on the ATP circuit.

They've risen five places in the latest rankings announcement.

Michael Venus (L) and Mate Pavic after winning the ASB Classic doubles final, Auckland, Saturday 16 January 2016. Copyright Photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz

Michael Venus (L) and Mate Pavic after winning the 2016 ASB Classic doubles final Photo: Photosport

Individually Pavic is at 39th and Venus 40 both career high rankings.

This week Venus and Pavic play in the Acapulco Open in Mexico.

They face Israel's Jonathan Erlich and Brit Colin Fleming in the first round, the same pair they defeated in the final at Marseille.

Venus and Pavic have won three titles in 2016 out of the five tournaments they have played.

The titles have been at the ASB Classic in Auckland, Montpellier and Marseille.

Jamie Murray of Scotland and Brazil's Bruno Soares are the top ranked doubles combination.

There is no change at the top of the men's singles rankings with Novak Djokovic number one from Andy Murray and Roger Federer.

Finn Tearney is the highest ranked New Zealand singles player at number 390.

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