Ponta Delgada crowns Ruiz–Esbri and Llaguno–Fassio: “A great feeling”

Alex Ruiz and Juanlu Esbri in the men’s draw, Patty Llaguno and Martina Fassio in the women’s. The FIP Gold in Ponta Delgada, in the Azores, concluded with the performances delivered by the two winning pairs on the final day, which drew a full crowd at the Azores Padel Club. Ruiz and Esbri defeated Marc Quilez and Fede Mouriño, the breakout pair of the tournament, after two highly competitive sets: decisive in the first was the Spaniards’ break in the eighth game, while in the second only the tie-break allowed the winning pair to pull away and close the match 6-4 7-6. For Ruiz and Esbri, it is their second title together after the FIP Platinum in Lyon last October. “We improved little by little throughout the tournament,” Ruiz said after the victory. “Every day we felt better. It’s a great feeling to take home this title, and I am pleased with this new victory alongside Juanlu.” Esbri shared the same feelings: “It has been a very positive week. It is my first time in the Azores, and after this victory I will stay here one more day to enjoy them a little.”

 

 

Title and 150 points in the FIP Ranking also for Patty Llaguno and Martina Fassio, the dominant pair in the women’s tournament. A flawless run for the world number 22 and number 25, without dropping a single set in five matches and conceding only 13 games in total to their opponents, including the 6-3 6-2 in the final against Lucía Martínez and Águeda Pérez. “I think this tournament has been very good for us as a team, for the confidence and for the matches we managed to win. It will certainly help give us an extra boost,” Llaguno said after the victory. For Fassio, it is her second title won in Ponta Delgada, after last year’s FIP Silver, on that occasion partnered with Portugal’s Nogueira: “By now I feel a bit at home here, I am very happy. You can really feel the warmth of the people, so I am very happy to have won again. I hope to do it again next year. We are very happy and now we will enjoy this success.”