2016-07-01 21:02:00 CET
Never-say-die saves Netherlands hopes
We’re within tantalizing touching distance of the business end of the men’s tournament at the Poreč Major and last year’s winners Alex Brouwer and Robert Meeuwsen will be glad the day is over!
The dynamic Dutch duo lost their opening match of the day to Austrian’s Doppler/Horst to scrape by their skin of their teeth into round of 24.
And it looked as though their troubles were going from bad to worse in their elimination match as they lost the first set against Brazilians Álvaro Filho/Vitor Felipe. Thankfully for their followers they pulled it round to book a ticket into the quarterfinals.
Doppler/Horst – easily the most popular team at the Poreč Major – blitzed their Polish opponents 15-4 in the deciding set to set up a round of 16 clash with Spain’s talented team Herrera/Gavira on Saturday.
It wasn’t so good for their fellow Austrians as Huber/Seidl and Kunert/Dressler both lost their knockout matches but a good day for the Germans got even better as Walkenhorst/Matysik beat Brazilians Ricardo/Andre in a three-set thriller.
However, it was the end of the road for last year’s bronze medalists Ranghieri/Carambula as they were beaten by Americans Bourne/Hyden 28-26, 21-15.
Stay tuned for all the details for tomorrow’s showdown in the men’s quarter-finals and women’s semifinals and final!
Read the third installment of Ben Saxton's Swatch Major Series blog
Stunning comeback gives Brazilian qualifiers gold