Day 2 Women’s: The favorites soar, and what a showdown between Germany and Brazil!

A large number of spectators, chants, trumpets, flags, and the shouts of athletes accompanied the plays of their teammates. With the second day of the FIP World Padel Championships in Qatar, the tension level has risen in the hunt for qualification for the knockout stage.

BRAZILIAN THRILLER Only one match was tightly contested until the end, as well as spectacular: the one between Brazil and Germany. A beautiful and spectacular showdown on Court 6 at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha, where Dana Ackerman and Khatarina Hering forcefully claimed the first point, overcoming the duo Abbud de Barros-Lenz 6-1 6-4. Then it was the turn of Denise Hoefer and Victoria Kurz, who faced the highly regarded Brazilian pair Schuck Silva-Cirne. The first set was a severe whiplash for the Germans, ending 6-0, the result of both tension and the aggressive and precise play of the Brazilians. In the second set, it became a closely fought battle for every point, with Hoefer tactically and mentally driving her partner, gradually transforming a challenging match into a climb that ended 6-4 for the Germans.

An epilogue that the Brazilians felt, and as the crowd filled the perimeter around Court 6 to enjoy the show, Hoefer-Kurz soared to a partial score of 4-1 that seemed close to a German celebration. Instead, a story seen a thousand times began: Kurz made a few too many errors, the Brazilians held their serve, and then managed the break, taking the lead at 5-4. And there, despite two consecutive match points saved by Hoefer — who played a great match — the final score of 6-4 sealed the tie at 1-1 in the clash between the two nations. In the third and decisive match, Abarzua-Branchi-Menna defeated Buttner-Scholten 6-2, 6-3, a score that brings it to 2-1 and gives them a chance to qualify in Group A for the quarterfinals. For the Germans, tomorrow brings a hard match against Spain.

SPAIN AND ARGENTINA OK Speaking of the “Wonder 8,” the reigning world champions, on Tuesday they achieved their second victory — securing first place in Group A with a perfect score—  against Chile by 3-0. In Group B, Argentina won 3-0 against Egypt, just like Portugal, which defeated the United States by the same score. In Group C, the European vice-champions Italy and Sweden flew high after their 3-0 victories against Japan and Uruguay, respectively. Finally, in Group D, France is in the lead after their success against the Netherlands (3-0), while Belgium defeated Denmark. Tomorrow brings decisive challenges for advancing to the quarterfinals in both drawn: the title and the ninth to sixteenth positions.