We lack superlatives to qualify the match experienced this Friday afternoon by the spectators of the Palais des sports in Toulouse. For almost three hours, Alex Ruiz and Juan Tello fought against Ale Galan and Jon Sanz in an epic fight which is, at this stage, the match of the week.

The Andalusian and the Argentinian were very close to winning, after winning the 1st set 6/4 and dominating a good part of the second set. But they failed to take off and allowed Galan – a little below at the start of the game – to gain momentum and offer his best face during the last 80 minutes. Jon Sanz, the youngest (22) and the lowest ranked of four men (19th), was put to the test but was able to withstand the shock and show that he had his place at this level of performance.

A 23-minute tie-break

We will not return here to the suspenseful scenario of this crazy match, with breathless reversals of situations that you will be able to relive in our live of the day.

On the other hand, we will evoke the ultimate tie-break of 23 minutes, won 14-12 by Galan and Sanz after having offered nine match points to the two teams, in total. A 10th had been missed earlier in the game by Ruiz and Tello.

From the first point of this decisive game, fate invited itself into the match, with a first smash from Galan slowed down by the boards, allowing Ruiz to punish Sanz. It was then a chiquita from Galan that remained in the net, before Sanz brought his team back to 1/2 with two superb shots.

Tello then struck a winning passing and offered a mini-break (3/2) to his team. The boards then helped Ruiz to complete a volley and turn with an advantage (4/2). Advantage canceled by Galan, who countered a bajada too tender of Tello. But on a high and long lob, Sanz only found the net, before catching up on the next two shots (5/5), canceling the mini-break.

In this crazy quarter-final, the first match point went to Ruiz and Tello, after an error by Sanz. But Galan saved her from a par 3 which went to the antipodes. And in the process, an incisive volley from Sanz pushed Tello to the fault, giving a match point to the Spaniards. This time, it was Tello who saved her by pounding Galan in the body. The same Tello then did a smash on the band that came out of the track, under the disgusted eye of Galan.

madness at its peak

The latter then took all the balls but it was Sanz who heroically saved the second match point from a volley in the corner. And a reflex from Galan then offered them a second match point. But then again, Tello and Ruiz were saving her.

The madness was then at its height in Toulouse, after 2 h 38 of mano a mano. The score was 9/9: it was Tello who served, then jumped up to spike, making a fake that hit the boards and tricked Sanz.

This 3rd match point was still saved by Jon Sanz with courage…. At 10/10, Sanz service, Ruiz made the mistake, but demanded the video… in vain.

At 11/10 against them, Ruiz and especially Tello once again saved the match point, before Ruiz found the grid at the next point and restored the advantage to his colors: 12/11. But Tello was deceived by a window and both teams were running at 12 everywhere. Ruiz, inexplicably, put his next return in the net. And FINALLY, after having pounded Tello, Galan concluded this incredible and unbreathable match with a vibora . 14/12: what an incredible tie break! And what an unforgettable match!

In the semi-finals, Galan and Sanz will find the pair Navarro / Chingotto, who will arrive much fresher on the track this Saturday.

After 40 years of tennis, Jérôme falls into the pot of padel in 2018. Since then, he thinks about it every morning while shaving… but never shaves pala in hand! Journalist in Alsace, he has no other ambition than to share his passion with you, whether you speak French, Italian, Spanish or English.

On the same subject

Tags