The Krakow European Games in padel are over! The finals of the three categories (mixed, men’s and women’s) were played this Sunday and the couples who won the gold were announced. Here we tell you who they are!
Results of the finals of the European Games
Daniel Santigosa and David Gala win in the men’s category
Daniel Santigosa and David Gala took the gold in the men’s category, making it clear that they are two youngsters who are on their way to the elite of world padel.
The men’s final would face the top seeds, both Spanish, Gala-Santigosa and Garcia-Rodriguez, being this a duel that shows the extraordinary showcase of Spanish padel that is to come.
Gala and Santigosa started the match at great speed, immediately basing the match on frenetic rhythms and a very aggressive game. The couple would close out the first set 6-3. In the second, despite an even start, they took advantage in the eighth game to take a 5-3 lead and serve. It wouldn’t be easy for them to close it out, as they needed 4 chances to take the title.
After the match, Santigosa commented: “Yes, a huge happiness and winning with my friend and partner David by my side was even better. How could we win against our friends and teammates? It was difficult because they know us and we spent a week together, but once on the field everything became clear. I dedicate this medal to my father and my brother”. Gala added: “I have spent many hours waiting, and now I can finally rejoice. Who do I dedicate it to? To my family, my friends and all those who love me”.
Carolina Orsi and Giorgia Marchetti take gold from Caparrós and Barrera
The surprise came in the women’s category! Carolina Orsi, protagonist of a sensational match, and Giorgia Marchetti, solid and tactically impeccable, defeated Marta Caparrós and Marta Barrera in the women’s final.
The battle between these two couples went on for almost 3 hours with a score of 6-4, 4-6 and 7-5.
The first set started evenly until the seventh game, when Orsi and Marchetti took the Spaniards’ serve. That advantage would be more than enough for the Italian duo to take the first set 6-4.
The second set would be full of alternatives for each couple. In fact, the Italians had the chance to take a 5-4 lead and serve, but they didn’t take advantage of the break point and it ended up taking its toll on them. Caparrós and Barrera won their serve and broke in the next to send the match into the third set 6-4.
In the decider, it would be the transalpine duo who would take the lead on the scoreboard. As in the second game, they also had a chance to take a 5-3 lead and serve, but the Spaniards ended up equalising (4-4). In the eleventh game, Orsi and Marchetti got the decisive break that would help them close the duel with a 7-5 to take the gold.
With the medal around her neck, Giorgia Marchetti commented: “I have no words, it’s an incredible move to bring a gold medal for Italy. I am overflowing with joy”. Carolina Orsi, for her part, said: “We won with heart, fighting until the end. We always believed in it, we deserved it. In the decisive moments, we took some winning shots, and then we had the coolness to close the match when we had the chance”.
Great role of the Italian team in general, but especially in the women’s category, where their other couple, Chiara Pappacena and Giulia Sussarello, won the bronze medal against the Spanish couple formed by Noa Canovas and Araceli Martinez.
Noa Canovas and Daniel Santigosa win in the mixed category
The first gold medal in padel at the European Games went to Spain. In the mixed category, the very young Noa Canovas (18 years old) and Daniel Santigosa (19) defeated the Italians Marco Cassetta and Giulia Sussarello in two sets by 6-3 and 7-5.
Spain got the break at 3-1 and managed to keep the advantage until 6-3, also taking advantage of some Italian errors. In the second set, Spain again ran away with a 3-1 lead. Italy, however, reacted immediately, hitting back thanks to two points from Sussarello. Soon after, Santigosa with two overflowing winners gave Spain the lead and dragged the team to the first match point. Cassetta reacted and pulled 3 winners out of his repertoire. Italy came back to 5-5, but in the end the Spanish team had more and took home the gold.
“It’s a unique feeling, a dream come true. The main difficulty was to adopt the technical and tactical plans to this speciality, which is new for us, but I must say that we had a lot of fun”, said Daniel Santigosa after winning the gold. Noa Cánovas added: “I am ecstatic, the mixed category was a great novelty, but all the preparation we did led us to this great result”.
Check here all the information about the European Games in the padel discipline.
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