David Marrero and Fernando Verdasco experienced any nerves on Monday they did not show it.
In their first match at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, the sixth seeds beat third seeds and defending champions Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez 6-1, 6-4 to extend their perfect record to 7-0 against their fellow Spaniards.
Marrero and Verdasco won the first three games in a 22-minute first set. They lost just one of their 16 first service points. Granollers and Lopez struggled from the baseline to combat the aggression, as Marrero and Verdasco kept the rallies short with net poaching.
Their dominance continued in the second set, when they took a 3-1 lead. At 4-3, Marrero fought back from 0/40 with a succession of big serves to maintain the break advantage.
It proved to be a crucial hold as minutes later Verdasco wrapped up the 60-minute victory.
It was the 34th match win of the year for Marrero and Verdasco, who won one title at the St. Petersburg Open (d. Inglot-Istomin) this year.
"Being here is one of the best feelings you can have as a tennis player," Verdasco told BarclaysATPWorldTourFinals.com. “I am really to be back after four years, now in the doubles. I lost all three of my singles matches in three sets last time and it was a tough situation.
"Now, David and I have to do our best and fight to the end in order to have a chance at lifting the trophy on Monday."
Last year Granollers and Lopez became the first Spanish winners of the year-end championship since 1975 when Juan Gisbert and Manuel Orantes won in Stockholm.
Second seeds Alexander Peya and Bruno Soares, and seventh seeds Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek also compete in the round robin group.
