Dubai: Debutant Fermin Ferreyra and Guillermo Villafane stood out as early favourites following their straight sets victory in the men’s Open Padel on the second night of the 2017 Nad Al Sheba (NAS) Ramadan Sports Tournament, late on Monday.
Ferreryra — who is making his first trip to Dubai — teamed up with Villafane to dig in deep for a 6-4, 6-4 win over the highly-favoured UAE duo of Mohammad and Abdullah Ahli in their opening match of the open competition, while Ramon Perez and Cesar Herreros crashed to their second defeat in as many days in the other match.
Given their experience of having played together for more than three years, the Ahli brothers are always looked upon as tricky opponents. The match was in fact a close encounter early in the first set as both pairs managed to stay on serve. But a crucial break in the ninth saw the Spaniards edge ahead and then Ferreryra held to take the set 6-4.
The second set too went the same way as the Ahli duo tried to innovate especially at the net. But the Spaniards banked on their superior experience to come out victors and push themselves as title favourites for the Open category. “Maybe we had our chances, but we did not make use of them when we had the opportunities,” Adbullah Ahli told Gulf News.
“But we are quite pleased with the way we played tonight as we are looking at the open competition as an ideal preparation for the teams and Emirati competitions,” he added.
The teams padel competition also got under way as Padel Pro 1 got past the Zayed Abbas Tennis Academy (Zata) team 2-0 with easy 6-0, 6-0 and 6-4, 6-3 results in their two matches. The third competition exclusively for UAE nationals will get under way on Wednesday where the Ahli brothers are the favourites for the title. “Even if we reach the final of the teams and Emirati competitions then it will be more than a title for us,” Abdullah Ahli admitted.
Meanwhile, in the volleyball competition, Dubai 2021 got past Zabeel Storm 3-1, while Dubai 2020 fought hard for a similar 3-1 win against Zabeel in the second match. Dubai 2021 took time to settle in, but that was enough for Zabeel Storm to take a tight opening set, 26-24. However, they came roaring back winning the next three sets 25-15, 25-17 and 25-22 to open their campaign on an emphatic note.
In the second match of the night, Dubai 2020 fought back from a lack-lustre start before powering their way to a 3-1 win over Zabeel. Led by Mohammad Yaqoob of Bahrain, Dubai 2020 recovered well in time before taking a tight and well-contested second set 33-31 and after that wrapped up the match winning the next two sets 25-18 and 25-21.
Held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council, this year’s NAS Ramadan Sports Tournament consists of nine sporting disciplines with teams and individuals vying for a total prize fund of more than Dh6 million.
RESULTS
(Padel Men’s Open) Benjamin Cassaigne/Xavier Masson def Ramon Perez/Cesar Herreros 6-2, 6-2; Fermin Ferreryra/Guillermo Villafane def Mohammad Al Ahli/Abdullah Al Ahli 6-4, 6-4. (Teams) Padel Pro 1 def Zata 2-0.
(Volleyball) Dubai 2021 def Zabeel Storm 3-1 (24-26, 25-15, 25-17, 25-22); Dubai 2020 def Zabeel 3-1 (20-25, 33-31, 25-18, 25-21).
