The NZ challenge at the 2021 Australian Open is over, after Marcus Daniell and partner Philip Oswald were knocked out by the defending champions in the men's doubles quarter-finals.
After winning a hard-fought first set, American Rajeev Ram and brit Joe Salisbury scored an early break in the second to clinch a 7-6 6-2 victory, and end Daniell's tournament.
Ram and Salisbury have now eliminated all three Kiwi contenders on their path to the semi-finals, dispatching Artem Sitak and British partner Jonny O’Mara in the first round, then Michael Venus and Aussie partner John Peers in the third round, before Wednesday's win.
In the opening set, Daniell and Oswald held serve to force a tiebreaker, pushing their opponents to the wire, before losing 8-6.
Ram and Salisbury changed gears in the second set, breaking Daniell's serve early to set the tone for a comfortable 6-2 win.
