Diestro and Gala win gold for Spain. Abbate and Montiel push them all the way on a sold-out Central Court

Spain’s gold medal success moves from the Spanish women’s derby, won by Sainz-Llaguno, to the match most eagerly anticipated by the crowd in Taranto at these XX Mediterranean Games: the Italian pair of Alvaro Montiel and Flavio Abbate taking on the second seeds, David Gala, aged 20 and ranked No. 34 in the world, and Jose Antonio Diestro, No. 45 in the FIP ranking and a player of great experience. Diestro later said: “As well as being happy to have won, playing with a friend like David is an added value. I have really enjoyed these Games; I have enjoyed the whole week with my team-mates and now we will celebrate together. In fact, we have the bad habit of spending too much time together and our partners will tell us off for it”, Jose Antonio jokes, delighted, but it doesn’t matter, let’s not tell them now!”. Alongside him, David Gala is also celebrating, as measured as ever but happy: “As José says, playing with a friend is a pleasure, and playing for Spain is the best thing there is, even more so on this occasion, at the first Mediterranean Games. So I am absolutely delighted and really looking forward to celebrating with my family, my team-mates, my girlfriend and, of course, José”.

 

The Spanish pair played a match of the highest level, never letting their guard down against the strong Italian duo, displaying experience, concentration and tactical humility that ultimately paid off with the gold medal. And the Italians? Abbate and Montiel gave everything in this men’s final of the Mediterranean Games – in front of an attentive FIP President Luigi Carraro – narrowly losing it (7-6 6-4), underlining just how evenly balanced the contest was on the Central Court. Not only that, as the Italian pair also saved two set points in the tie-break of the first set. While there is disappointment at having come within touching distance of the gold medal, there is also the knowledge that Italian padel continues to develop. And when you play like this against two top-50 players, the message is clear, strong and further strengthens the confidence of Italy head coach Marcela Ferrari: “Flavio and Alvaro have the qualities to compete in matches like these, and they showed it in this final by playing a great point-by-point match against two very strong players. They reached the final and won a silver medal that reflects very well all the good work they have done at these Mediterranean Games”.

 

At the end, Flavio Abbate said: “We gave everything; the match slipped away from us through small details. I would have liked to win the gold with Alvaro, with whom I have a special relationship, but that is sport. You have to accept these moments and move on immediately”. Alvaro Montiel, alongside him, looked back on some crucial moments of the match and reflected: “Perhaps we could have played the tie-break better, but there is no doubt that we played a very high-level match. We fought for this shirt, for the people who were here and those who followed us from home. We are happy with the silver and I am delighted to have won it with Flavio, who is my team-mate on court and one of my best friends. We dedicate it to our families and to everyone who followed us with affection and passion”.