TORONTO—Achieving huge success on the doubles court is a delicate feat, and no team knows this better than Michael Venus and Raven Klaasen.

The duo, who started playing together earlier this year, lost a five-set Wimbledon final to Mike Bryan and Jack Sock just last month. Venus won his first Grand Slam last year with Ryan Harrison at the French Open, while the 35-year-old Klaasen was seeking his first.

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This week at the Rogers Cup, they got their revenge by beating Bryan and Sock 7-6 (5), 6-4 in the quarterfinals.

"That was definitely tough losing the Wimbledon final, but for us to be there in that situation and put ourselves in a good position in the match, that's all we can ask for," Venus told Baseline. "It is great to come out here and get over that hurdle the next time we played them."

On Saturday, the 30-year-old New Zealander and Klaasen scored a comeback win over Rogers Cup top seeds Mate Pavic and Oliver Marach, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 10-3. They have yet to win a tournament bigger than an ATP 250 together, having won Marseille in February, but things are really clicking for them.

"The easy part is picking a partner the tough part is getting someone that you are going to win consistently with. I think that's the longer you play the more you realize what skill set you look for to give yourself the chance," Klaasen said. "Fortunately, Mike and I have figured this out a little bit."

The South African/New Zealand duo know what they need to do in high pressure points, like in the deciding tiebreak against Pavic and Marach, which they won decidedly 10-3 right after winning the second set in a tiebreaker.

"The nice thing is that we have kind of gotten to the point when you get in that situation more regularly we calm down, the composure is getting better," Klaasen said. "On any given day you're playing against good players you're just trying to tip the scales in your favor as much as possible."

Some of those good players are a little unfamiliar, like when singles superstars Novak Djokovic, Grigor Dimitrov, David Goffin and Kevin Anderson decided to play doubles in Toronto.

"I think it's great for the game," Klaasen said. "Watching [Djokovic] out there. He brings a whole new dynamic. It's good for us."

Anderson and Djokovic's run ended in the quarters to Alexander Peya and Nikola Mektic, while Goffin and Dimitrov withdrew. Venus and Klaasen will play their fourth final together on Sunday.

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Venus and Klaasen
find winning way in
Toronto

Venus and Klaasen find winning way in Toronto

ATP Toronto

Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev headline the Rogers Cup in Toronto. Watch live coverage from four courts on Tennis Channel Plus beginning Monday, August 6th at 11:00 A.M.