Sanchez-Josemaria repeat victory Araujo-Ustero advance in three sets

Advancing in two sets, just like a week ago at the P2 in Newgiza. Ari Sanchez and Paula Josemaria secured another win in the quarterfinals of the FIP World Cup Pairs, again against Marina Guinart and Veronica Virseda, whom they had also defeated in the quarterfinals in Egypt. At the Arena Kuwait, the number two seeds prevailed 6-4 6-3, reigniting their chase of Gemma Triay and Delfi Brea, managing the match well after breaking the ice and tension in the early games: “We started very focused,” Ari said after the match. “Although perhaps I made a few mistakes at the beginning. Until 3-3 we kept the rhythm, then we managed to take control of the score.” Once they took control, the match became easier to handle, even mentally: “We started feeling better on court, and that helped us get ahead in the score. The court is slow and the ball is heavy, so you have to work hard, but we’re really happy to be in the semifinals. Tomorrow we’ll definitely face another tough match.” Josemaria confirmed that the start was the toughest part: “Maybe we started a bit slow at the beginning, but then we worked and improved. I’m very happy; today we played better than yesterday.”

ARAUJO-USTERO, WHAT A MATCH An incredible match also took place on the Alghanim court, where Andrea Ustero and Sofia Araujo defeated Ale Salazar and Martina Calvo in three sets (6-4 5-7 6-2) and over two and a half hours of high-level padel. In the end, the details favored the number four seeds, who after breaking at 4-3 held their serve to close the first set. A growing finish in the second set from Calvo/Salazar leveled the match after the decisive stretch at 5-5, then two consecutive breaks from Araujo and Ustero in the third set ultimately decided the match, sending them to the semifinals that will open tomorrow’s session at 2 PM local time against the reigning champions Triay-Brea.