The fight of the final of the Master Final of the WPT was announced unequal, between the world n°1 Juan Lebron and Ale Galan, opposed to Federico Chingotto and Martin Di Nenno, two players of right associated last minute for this last tournament of the season. On one side of the track, the world No. 1, two players around 1,85m tall, impressive in power, speed and technical virtuosity, almost untouchable this year; on the other, two Argentinian “elves” known for their consistency, their qualities as defenders and their super-fast movements.

Nobody expected them in the final of this Master Final and yet they impressed the Barcelona public by successively eliminating Tapia / Sanyo in the quarter then Navarro/Tello in half, each time in three sets. Galan / Lebron, they left only seven games on the way: 3 in the quarter against Lima and Stupa, 4 in half against Gonzalez / Ruiz.

Mass is not said

But this Sunday, we would quickly understand that the mass was not said. With their precise game and great tactical accuracy, the Argentinians held off Mariano Amat's players throughout the first set. Very eye-catching, Di Nenno and Chingotto held their first four service games by saving five break points. Opposite, the favorites ensured their commitments more easily.

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In this set, everything was decided in the tenth game, and in particular during a magnificent and interminable point, which allowed the seeded 1 to take the advantage… then the set (6-4).

At the start of the second set, the Spanish steamroller went into action, breaking Di Nenno's serve to lead 3-0. But the Argentinians, heroic of courage, did not give up and came back 1-3, then 2-3, taking Lebron's service thanks to spectacular counterattacks. Chingotto then resists the attacks and holds his service: 3-3.

Battle of David against Goliath

Hitting almost no smash for lack of power and fear of the counter-attack, Chingotto and Di Nenno offer a game that has become very rare at this level, based on millimeter lobs, chiquitas advancing their opponents to create breaches in defense, as well as counterattacks on Galan and Lebron's less unreachable smashes. Not to mention the phenomenal reflexes of these two small players, endowed with impeccable physical endurance.

In this fight of David against Goliath, Federico Chingotto ended up showing a physical limit, having a sore thigh treated at 3-4 in the second set. But in the next game, his strapping did not prevent him from running everywhere and equalizing at 4-4 on Di Nenno's serve.

For Rodrigo Ovide's players, each point won is a feat, as Lebron and Galan are constantly dangerous and commit very few faults. But the "elves" refuse to give up and do not shrink from any effort.

Led 4-5, Chingotto had to hold his serve and resist the opposing pressing. But two bad defensive choices on the first two points put the No. 1s two points away from the match. Back to the wall, Chingotto / Di Nenno find themselves with four match points to defend. They save the first three brilliantly and offer themselves the “punto de oro”! And they win it!!! Unbelievable…

At 5-5, everything becomes possible and the whole public dreams of a third set, including football fans… who are one hour away from the kick-off of France – Argentina.

When Lebron is wrong

Galan does not detail his service game, won white. All the pressure is on the shoulders of Di Nenno, who is about to serve. Servers lead 30/0, but two mistakes and it's 30A. But Lebron is wrong in turn twice and allows the Argentines to afford a tie-break.

Lebron shows a new sign of weakness, tinged with impatience in the face of this pair which resists all attacks. The first mini-break goes to the Argentinians, who lead 3-1 then 4-2. The suspense is unbearable!

Another foul from Lebron and it's 6-3: three set points on the service of "Super Raton". The first is saved from a winning drop shot by Lebron then the next one from a smash by Galan! We can no longer breathe in the Palau Sant Jordi.

And finally, it is on Galan's serve that he assumes his smash: Di Nenno is waiting for him at the net and propels the ball out of the field with a backhand smash! A set everywhere and the public exults.

From the first game of the 3rd set, Lebron and Galan set off again, but Chingotto preserved his service game on a new decisive point, the 4th of the match in their favor, out of six played.

Both teams then won their service games until 2-2, when Galan and Lebron gave themselves three more chances to take Chingotto's service. The second is converted by the world No. 1, who seem more composed than at the end of the second set.

Led 3-2, then 4-2, the duo trained by Rodrigo Ovide are back against the wall again, forced to catch up. Instead, they suffered from the quiet strength of the players of Mariano Amat, who made another break and led 5-2. This time, the mass seems to be said.

Juan Lebron serves for the match and tightens the game with his compi Galan: and this time, Goliath triumphs over David (6-4, 6-7, 6-2), at the end of a sumptuous match, the most beautiful and the most unexpected of the tournament.

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.

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