The “Chingalan” win, but Cremona/Deus pass the test

The night before the exams for Simone Cremona and Nuno Deus was rather troubled, as preparing for a challenge against Galan and Chingotto by going to sleep at 5 AM, after a match ending at 2:23, is far from ideal. But the maturity of the Italian and the Portuguese can be said to have passed. In front of the crowd at Pietrangeli, it ended 6-0 6-4, after a first set lasting 20 minutes but especially a balanced second set for about forty minutes, where the Italian and his partner managed to really compete, even against two phenomena who took the court with the intention of leaving nothing to chance.

The difference was made by a single break in the last game, when the duo Cremona/Deus were close to 5-5. They would have deserved it for how they stayed in the match, finding a solution to escape the unbearable pressure of the first set, in conditions so fast that even Chingotto’s smashes were lethal. Cremona demonstrated that he could be solid and organized even at the pace set by the number two pair, while the Portuguese Deus gradually gained confidence and with his cork racket showed great power and a good dose of creativity, earning a couple of applauses from Galan surprised by his classy plays. Asking for more would have been too much, being satisfied is enough.

“Despite only 4 hours of sleep,” said the Italian, “I felt good on the court. I don’t think with ideal preparation it would have gone any better. I’m satisfied with how we stayed in the match after the 6-0, believing in ourselves and changing some tactical details. I see it as a reward. And with Deus, things are going very well. The understanding is there, we are competitive and we’ve collected 145 points in three tournaments: a lot.” For him, the top-100 is approaching, and for the “Chingalan,” there will be Bautista/Guerrero in the round of 16.