DOHA: UAE and Japan won the men’s and women’s titles in the FIP Asia Padel Cup organized by the International Padel Federation (FIP) together with the Qatar Tennis Federation (QTF) and Padel Asia at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on Friday.
In an exciting finals, which kept the holiday crowd in good spirits, UAE defeated hosts Qatar 2-1 to win the men’s title while Japan got past a spirited fight of Iran to clinch the women’s top position.
In the men’s section, UAE were off to a brilliant start winning the first game of the best-of-three match series.
The UAE pair of I Vilariño Gestoso and M Al Janahi gave them a 1-0 lead with a straight sets 6-3, 6-2 win over M Saadon Al Kuwari and H A Waly in one hour and two minutes.
The hosts however bounced to draw level with R Naif and M. Naif winning the second game 6-2, 6-0 against A Alabdulla and M Aljanahi to draw level and take the final into the decider
In the final match, UAE got the better of Qatar in one and 15 minutes with F Al Janahi and E Goenaga defeating M Al Khanji and R A Aljufairi 6-4, 6-1 to register a fighting 2-1 win and clinch the first-ever Asia Cup title.
Australia clinched the third place in the men’s section with a 2-0 win over Iran.
