Doha: Argentina successfully defended their title in the men’s edition of the FIP World Padel Championship Qatar 2024 with a thrilling tiebreaker victory over Spain in Doha yesterday, concluding the match with a score of 2-1.
In the pivotal third match, Leandro Augsburger and Valentin Gomez Libaak captivated the audience at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex, triumphing over Spain’s Miguel Yanguas and Francisco Navarro in an intense three-set encounter.
The Argentine pair staged a comeback after losing the first set, ultimately winning the match with scores of 3-6, 7-5, 7-6, clinching the victory in a tense tiebreak.
In the exhilarating contest, Spain initially took the lead as Arturo Coello and Javier Nieto showcased a commanding performance against Argentina’s Franco Stupaczuk and Martin Di Nenno, securing a swift 6-1, 6-2 win in under an hour.
Nevertheless, Argentina quickly responded in the second match to level the score.
Agustin Tapia and Federico Chingotto, ranked second and fourth in the world respectively, managed to defeat the experienced duo of Juan Lebron and Alejandro Galan in a hard-fought battle, concluding with a score of 7-6, 3-6, 6-2.
The final match yesterday marked the 14th encounter between these two powerhouses, with the South Americans claiming their 12th men’s world title.
Qatar, meanwhile, concluded the tournament in 16th place following a 2-0 defeat to Paraguay. In the opening match, Sergio Miltos and Marcelo Gonzalez decisively overcame Qatar’s Mohammed Saadon Al Kuwari and Mohamed Abdulla with a score of 6-1, 6-4.
In the subsequent match, Fernando Dehnike and Martin Fernandez Popovich maintained Paraguay’s momentum by defeating Qatar’s Abdulla Hassan and Jabor Al Mutawa with the same scoreline of 6-1, 6-4, thereby achieving a comprehensive two-match victory.
Portugal claimed the bronze medal with a flawless performance against Italy, while France, who secured bronze at the previous World Championships, finished in seventh place after a 2-1 victory over Chile.
The UAE achieved a fifth-place finish with a 2-0 victory over Brazil.
Sweden concluded their campaign in ninth place after a 2-0 win against the Netherlands. The USA triumphed over Mexico with a score of 2-0 to secure the 13th position, while Belgium managed a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Uruguay, finishing in 11th place.
Earlier, the Spanish women’s team triumphed over Argentina with a 2-0 scoreline, earning their sixth consecutive world title.
The Spanish duo of Gemma Triay Pons and Carmen Fernandez Sanchez set the stage on Center Court yesterday afternoon, defeating Argentina’s Maria Virginia Riera and Julieta Edith Bidahorria in straight sets (6-3, 6-2) to give Spain an early lead. In the second match, Ariana Sanchez Fallada and Paula Josemaria Martin faced a challenge from Argentina’s Delfina Brea Senesi and Claudia Jensen Sirvent. After losing the first set 3-7, Sanchez and Josemaria made a remarkable comeback, winning the next two sets 7-5, 7-5, thus securing Spain’s ninth world title.
“It was a very tough match, but we are an incredible team and we demonstrated that throughout the week. At the most crucial moment, we showcased all our qualities,” a delighted Fallada remarked after the final.
“Especially in the first set the match was really tough. We suffered, but we tried to put as many balls on the court as possible. Congratulations to Argentina for playing to their limits, we, on the other hand, want to dedicate this to the Comunidad Valenciana. We are all with you,” Josemaria said, remembering the victims of the deadly floods back home.
