There are matches that change the atmosphere of a tournament. The one delivered by Paquito Navarro and Jon Sanz They are clearly part of it. The day before, the Spanish pair had defeated Lebrón/Stupaczuk after a battle lasting more than two hours. This victory opens a new chapter for the duo, now propelled into the ranks of the major protagonists of this Pairs World Cup.

The start of the match set the tone: Paquito and Sanz came out with visible determination, quickly imposing their rhythm to take the first set 6-2. But Lebrón and Stupa found the resources to respond. Their comeback, punctuated by a decisive break in the final set, suggested they had the match in hand.

 Paquito Navarro: "For the first time in my life, I am the more stable of the pair."
FIP Credit

The turning point, however, came at 4-4 in the third set. Down 0-40 on their serve, Sanz and Navarro saved three break pointsThen three more a little later, in a suffocating game where every point mattered. This resistance changed everything. "We knew that this game might decide the match. If they took the lead, the dynamic would become complicated. Paco helped me with two very important points, and we managed to regain our confidence," explained Jon Sanz after the match.

Behind them, the Spanish pair rode this momentum. Lebrón and Stupaczuk served twice to stay in the match, but couldn't stem the tide. The first match point, earned on Stupa's serve, proved decisive: an explosion of joy, imaginary guitars slung over their shoulders, and total communion with the Centre Court crowd.

 Paquito Navarro: "For the first time in my life, I'm the more stable one in the pair" Guitar
FIP Credit

Thanks to this victory, Paquito and Sanz have earned a prestigious semi-final against Chingotto and GalánAn opposition that promises to put the Kuwait Arena under pressure. Navarro summed it up with his usual humor: "Now, sauna, spa, we recover... and tomorrow, we're back at it."

Where can I watch the semi-finals of the World Pairs Championship?

Finally, Paco concluded perfectly in the press conference: "For the first time in my life, I'm the more stable one in the pair." It must be said that Paquito has met his match in Sanz, a player even more unpredictable and erratic than himself!

Pierre Guille Sanchez

Amateur player from the south of France and passionate about Padel with a particular focus on the women's circuit.

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