Brazil, Puppo–Maldonado triumph: Joinville crowns the champions

Argentine victory at the FIP Silver in Joinville, Brazil: Luciano Puppo and Maximo Maldonado (right of the photo) defeated the pair Franco Dal Bianco–Martin Abud in the final (6-4 1-6 6-3). The two winners showed consistency throughout the tournament, overcoming Gonzalo Rubio–Agustín ‘el Loco’ Torre in the semi-finals (7-6 6-4), one of the pairs considered among the contenders for the title. In the other semi-final, Dal Bianco–Abud had defeated (7-6 6-4) the tournament’s other favoured pair, the No. 2 seeds Jose Jiménez–Maxi Sanchez Blasco, who last December won the CUPRA FIP Finals in Shanghai.

“I am very happy to have won this tournament after a start to the year that had not been going in the best way – Maldonado said after the victory -. Thanks to the team, who are even more present when things are not going well. Thanks to the people and the sponsors who help me every day. We keep working”. Puppo also commented on the win: “The happiness is immense. What a great tournament, Maximo. Thank you for always fighting by my side”. Last September, Puppo and Maldonado won the FIP Bronze in Viña del Mar, while in October they triumphed at the FIP Bronze in Santiago de Chile.