Dubai: Top-ranked players lived up to form as Carlos Daniel Gutierrez and Juan Mieres Petruf became the first of the men into the semi-finals at the inaugural Dubai Padel Masters at the Nad Al Sheba (NAS) Sports Complex yesterday.
Gutierrez and Petruf, ranked seventh and eighth on the World Padel Tour (WPT) fought from a one-set deficit to tame Adrian Allemandi and Miguel Lamperti 3-6, 6-1, 6-4. This was the fourth win out of the four the two pairs have played so far this season.
“It has always been close between us this season. But the key lay in staying patient and going about with the strategy we had decided upon earlier,” Petruf told Gulf News.
Always the underdogs, Lamperti and Allemandi got off to a quick start with a break in the second for a 3-0 lead till Lamperti finally served out the first set 6-3.
Treatment needed
The higher-ranked pair called for the physio after the first set and this seemed to help as Gutierrez and Petruf broke in the second game to go 3-0 clear. Allemandi was next to have treatment to attend on his left wrist as Gutierrez and Mieres powered ahead 4-1. A second break saw this lead extended to 5-1 as Petruf served out the set 6-1.
In the deciding third, Gutierrez and Mieres broke Lamperti in the very first game to go 1-0 clear and never looked behind as Gutierrez served out set and match 6-4 and book their place in the semi-finals.
“Even after losing the first set we just decided to dig in and wait. It’s such a good feeling to be in the semi-finals. It’s like a dream come true. Now we need to focus a bit more and not repeat our mistakes from the past two days,” Gutierrez said.
Meanwhile, the first of the women’s semi-finalists were also known after Elisabeth Amatriain Armas and Patricia Llaguno Zielinski, ranked fifth and sixth in the world, eased their way past Gemma Triay Pons and Paula Eyheraguibel 6-2, 6-3.
Alejandra Salazar Bengoechea and Marta Marrero powered their way to a 6-3, 6-3 win over Carolina Navarro Bjork and Cecilia Reiter in the second quarter-final to meet Armas/Zielinski combine.
Thursday’s Results
(Women) Elisabeth Amatriain Armas/Patricia Llaguno Zielinski vs Gemma Triay Pons/Paula Eyheraguibel 6-2, 6-3; Alejandra Salazar Bengoechea/Marta Marrero vs Carolina Navarro Bjork/Cecilia Reiter 6-3, 6-3.
(Men) (4 pm) Carlos Daniel Gutierrez/Juan Mieres Petruf vs Adrian Allemandi/Miguel Lamperti 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.
-Ends
