London (AFP)

Separated in March, gathered at the end of August, triumphant in November? Winners for the first time at Bercy last week, Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut arrive without pressure at the Masters doubles in London who has always refused them. Until this year?

"Certainly, over the year, we did not play a lot together," admitted Herbert Saturday at a press conference at 48 hours of an almost unexpected tournament for the French pair.

The year started perfectly with their triumph at the Australian Open in January, which made them the eighth duo with four major tournaments to his name.

But in March, Herbert decided at 28 to focus on his singles career, not without a little infidelity by participating in Wimbledon alongside Andy Murray, who goes very badly at his friend for five years.

They give themselves a second chance at the US Open hoping to find new energy.

"At the US Open, the energy was not so there, anyway ...", recognized Mahut Saturday.

"We had trouble replaying together, it was a difficult time also because we played a lot but not won many singles matches, it was a rather tiring time of the year."

- Heavy in the first round -

Perhaps also because the abscess has not been flattened, they dry up drastically in the first round and are on the brink of divorce.

A frank discussion in a hotel room in New York is finally back in the saddle.

"As soon as we met, the priority was that, beyond the level of play, it was to be on the court, to have fun again on the field, to share moments outside, and from the moment that it happens between us, the level goes up and the results happen, "summarized Mahut.

Indeed, the results followed with a semifinal in Vienna and the win "at home", as Herbert said, as a symbol.

The pair arrived in London "with envy, a lot of positive and good energy," he continued.

And they will need it with a strong group, starting with the Colombian world number one Cabal / Farah, whom they had beaten last year in the semi-finals before yielding to Americans Mike Bryan and Jack Sock.

They will also face the No. 3 seeded German Krawietz / Mies and N.6, Dutchman Rojer and Romanian Tecau, winners of the Masters in 2015, beating Herbert and Mahut in the pool.

- The Davis Cup in stride -

"Already there is no left-handed, a problem less to solve," noted Mahut, before pointing out that "otherwise we know well (our opponents, we) know what to expect."

"It will not be played very much." (In doubles), we play only important points, it will be played at one, two or three points ... ", also judged Herbert.

Being seeded N.8 hardly bother him. In 2016, "we were number 1 and we did not win a match," said Mahut. And fighting against Colombian favorites no more.

"I'm not sure they're very happy to play us because we get in shape, because we've already beaten them", even if "we know that we have to put the cursor very very high".

And it will be necessary to maintain then for the new Davis Cup formula to be held in Madrid two days after the final in London.

But even if the Masters were to stop on Friday at the end of the group stage, "we will have to adapt to the level of physical management, training ...", says Herbert.

"It's the fifth year we're playing (the Masters), we'll use a little less juice," he added.

Finally, old couples, it's good.

© 2019 AFP