The Dutch Padel National Team missed the last ticket to the World Padel Championship 2016 in Portugal. During a face-off in Milan, Italy, Austria defeated the orange team by 2-1. The series was organized by the International Padel Federation.

First Match

The first confrontation was of unusual high level and speed. The Dutch Peter Bruijsten and Berend Boers delighted the supporters with delicacies and sophistication, including dropshots and counter attacks through the side door. This kind of play is unusual to amateurs. Nevertheless, Krenn and Alten won by a close 7-6 4-6 7-6.

The Re-match

If the first match was for the Austrians by a tight score, the second match represented more of the same but in this case fortune favored the Dutch. After a long match Marcel Bogaart and Kees-Jan Schuilemburg defeated Ederer and Schedlbauer 7-6 5-7 6-4.

No Chance

With the match tied 1-1, Uriel Maarsen and Bram Meijer entered the court to play against the Austrian Bierent and Sotiriu. Without a response from the Dutch, the match was for the Austrian within forty minutes. The score confirmed the Austrian superiority, 6-1 6-2.

Consulted by the result, National Team Coach Norberto Nesi commented: “… we knew we could take the series, but our performance needed to be perfect. We were aware that one of the Austrian teams was of much higher level than ours. Thus, for the other matches we had not option than winning 2 of 2. It was very close. Unfortunately not good enough this time…”