The last men's quarter-final of the Master Final of the World Padel Tour is the one that was the most undecided and the most disputed.

Opposed to the Argentines Maxi Sanchez and Lucho Capra, Paquito Navarro and Juan Tello were immediately threatening, getting two break points from the first service game from Sanchez. But unable to convert them, the darlings of the public left the initiative to their opponents, who missed an opportunity to steal Navarro's service in the 5th game.

Finally, Sanchez and Capra, who have just announced their separation, were going to break in the 9th game, concretizing a domination forged with courage. Sanchez did not hesitate when concluding the set 6-4, well helped by a Capra yet hit in the thigh and calling on the trainer several times.

Tello shot in the body

But at the start of the second set, it was Tello who was on the verge of breaking and saved in extremis two break points on punto de oro, after being hit in the body (and perhaps in his pride) by a smash of Max.

Capra, despite his contracture in the thigh, is particularly threatening, leaving no chance for the seeded 4 on his service game.

Sanchez must in turn defend his service game twice: the first opportunity is brilliantly saved on a point of madness, but Tello grants himself the second and widens the gap: 4-2 for the Hispano-Argentine pair. But when it was time to confirm the break, Paquito then Tello made two errors in a row and had to face three break points. They come out in extremis on a new punto de oro (their 3rd of the set, against 2 for their opponents in the 1st), after saving a heroic point at 30/40. Despite the pressing of Capra / Sanchez, it is logical that Paquito and Juan won the 2nd set with the score of 6-3.

Will Capra and Sanchez, once again, be very threatening but unable to make the ultimate difference?

A scent of curse

The first game of the third set seems to announce the color: Sanchez loses his service on a new decisive point, after two bandejas in the net of every Argentine…

But against all odds, Capra and Sanchez offered three break points after winning what could be the point of the tournament. Alas, three are not enough and a 5th consecutive punto de oro falls into the hands of Navarro / Tello, despite the incredible opposing defense. If the victory was awarded by courage, Capra and Sanchez would win this match, we say to ourselves. In the meantime, they are down 2-1 and must break to recover.

Patience and courage almost pay off in the next game, but three new break points escape them, the last of which on an incredible new decisive point. Six punto de oro lost in a row: it smells like a curse!

But the curses are made to be broken, sometimes in pain: the heroic abnegation of Capra / Sanchez ends up paying on the 10th punto de oro of the match, a superb par 3 from Capra which allows the Argentines to equalize 3-3 . And yet, that's not enough: in a new twist, Paquito thwarts another par 3 from Capra and steals his commitment to regain the advantage: 4-3.

Capra valiantly continues to encourage his “compi”: “Vamos luchando, Maxi!” But Tello wins his serve and the TdS4 breaks away 5-3. Despite everything, we feel a serene determination in Paquito and "el Gato", who resist against all odds the grinta of Mati Ortiz's players. The latter still save three break and match points thanks to which they come back to 4-5.

But inexorably, that will not be enough: the curse does not let go of them, unless Navarro and Tello are blessed! They win 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, in what is the best match of the tournament so far.

Tomorrow in the semi-finals, they will face their former partners Di Nenno and Chingotto, who were stunning this afternoon against Tapia and Gutierrez. A match that promises to be very interesting and which will be to follow on Canal + Sport 360!

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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