Pappacena-Sussarello defeat Spain and win bronze: “Crazy joy”

Almost three hours of battle to win Italian Padel’s first medal at the EG2023 in Krakow in three sets (7/5, 3/6, 7/5) against Spain. Chiara Pappacena and Giulia Sussarello – soon to be back on court with Marco Cassetta in search of gold in the ‘Mixed’ speciality – grabbed it when all seemed lost, when a break at 4-3 by the Spaniards in the third set seemed an impossible mountain to climb. Instead, what happened was that Noa Canovas and Araceli Martinez found themselves facing a pair that was once again compact, solid, with the lucidity of those who have to play for everything.

And so, from 5-3 Spain, Marcela Ferrari’s girls strung together four games in a row, all on the volley, enriched by two crazy wins by Pappacena, which led to a 6-5 overtaking with as many errors by Araceli Martinez. Giulia Sussarello’s hold and Pappacena’s surge changed the scenario, turning it into a gentle descent towards the medal. In the last game, another great point by Pappacena in the opening was the overture to three errors in a row by Araceli Martinez that decreed the Italian triumph. Before this epilogue, a hard-fought first set won by Italy, a second set with Spain in comeback and the decisive match drawn out until the Italian acceleration, for 2 hours and 40 minutes of battle in the splendid Krakow Market Square. In the numbers, there is the great balance of the match, with 129 winners for the Italians against 124 for the Spaniards. The balance of points won on the first ball of serve was different, with a net 72 to 52 for Italy, the same effectiveness in the points at the response, with an even 45%, while on break balls Italy closed with 67% of converted chances against 26% for Spain.

“We are very happy, the Azzurri jersey – the first words of the ‘bronze’ girls – we live it intensely, it is a second skin and we still do not realise how beautiful and incredible the feeling of having won a medal here at the Games is. It was a very tough final and that is why we are even more proud to have brought a medal to Italy“.