Realistically, how far do we think the Cash/Patten combo can go? I can definitely see them winning a 250. The qualities of Patten are a bit more obvious - his big serve and a wingspan that make him hard to pass at the net, but I've also been impressed by Cash's hand skills.

Because they are a left-right combo I suppose the obvious tactic at certain points is to try and hit down the middle and really test the quality of their communication skills, but I assume higher ranked pairs will have something else up their sleeves.

Densher wrote:

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Realistically, how far do we think the Cash/Patten combo can go? I can definitely see them winning a 250. The qualities of Patten are a bit more obvious - his big serve and a wingspan that make him hard to pass at the net, but I've also been impressed by Cash's hand skills.

Because they are a left-right combo I suppose the obvious tactic at certain points is to try and hit down the middle and really test the quality of their communication skills, but I assume higher ranked pairs will have something else up their sleeves.

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 There is very little benefit in terms of ranking points in continuing to play challengers.

They may as well have a crack at the tour and see how they get on.

I watched some of that, thought they were really quite impressive.

Those finals, especially winniing ones as is their norm, are still fairly profitable for points with title points being 80 as against an ATP 250 SF 90 points and with their lowest counters being 16 points.

I agree though that the new year will be the time for ATP tour events and possible better rankings progress as it gets more dfficult to rise many places, especially as they have relatively little to defend during the first half of the year.

For now these challenger titles are bringing them ever more into Aus Open MD contention.

I know this gets asked all the time but do onsite alts get allocated according to their ranking that week rather than off the alts list. I seem to recall Liam missing out on an alt place because he chose not to play the week before.

Julian & Henry s again - eventually:

Final:  (1) Julian Cash & Henry Patten CR 160 (81+79) defeated (WC) Francesco Forti & Marcello Serafini (ITA/ITA) CR 889 (352+537) by 6-7(3) 6-4 [10-4] 

Think this pushes their combined ranking up to live 149. Looks like they may be able to improve this to 139 should they win another title next week. Think theyll need a final to improve their ranking at all next week. So right on the edge of Aus Open entry.