Sometimes scores can be deceiving. The quarter-finals of the FIP World Cup PairsThe matches played at the Kuwait Arena offer a perfect illustration: two games dominated on paper by the favorites, but much more closely contested in practice. Between Gemma Triay – Delfi Brea and the surprise pairing of Gala – Garcia, the first four qualifiers for the semi-finals had to display real discipline to avoid the pitfalls.

The figures shouldn't be trusted. On the BNK Central CourtGemma Triay and Delfi Brea secured their place in the semifinals in just over an hour, defeating Alejandra Alonso and Claudia Jensen 6-2, 6-1. A clear victory, but far from easy. Triay reiterated this after the match: despite the score difference, the first set was close, with long rallies and intense pressure from their opponents. The duo knew what to expect: in Rotterdam, they had almost let slip a match that had started very well.

On the Alghanim CourtThe atmosphere was completely different, with a highly anticipated duel. Mike Yanguas and Coki Nieto faced off again. David Gala and Pablo Garcia, who had defeated Di Nenno/Augsburger in the previous round. Once again, the final draw shows a double 6/2, but the match was anything but straightforward. It took 1 hour and 25 minutes of play, with many games going in favor, to finally extinguish the Spaniards' momentum.

Yanguas said he was drawn to the specific format of the FIP World Cup PairsThis allows players to compete with their regular season partners. A motivating framework, reinforced by the stakes: 2,000 points and a world title. For Nieto, the score doesn't reflect the resilience of Gala and Garcia, capable of troubling any pair if they find consistency. Their solidity in key moments prevented a longer and more treacherous match.

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.

On the same subject

Tags