Action during Argentina's tie against Netherlands.
Doha: Reigning men’s world champions Argentina continued their dominant run in Doha with another win in Group A, sweeping past Netherlands at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex yesterday on Day 2 of the Padel World Cup.
With yesterdays’ win, the 13-time champions topped their group, collecting four points from two wins, with a 6-0 rubber record.
Agustin Tapia and Valentino Libaak opened with a 6-4, 6-2 win over S Richters and T Roper, before Franco Stupaczuk and Maximiliano Arce Simo defeated B van Opstal and J Prins 6-1, 6-3 to secure the tie. Leandro Augsburger and Federico Chingotto completed the clean sweep with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over J Nolten and N van Betuw.
Meanwhile, their arch-rivals and last tournament’s runners-up, Spain also maintained their winning run with a convincing 3-0 victory over Paraguay in Group B Miguel Yanguas and Javier Leal opened with a 6-4, 6-3 win over M A Gonzalez San Martin and F Dehnike, before Francisco Navarro and Juan Lebron secured the tie with a 6-0, 6-2 victory over P Petit Fernandez and M. N. Popovich Fernandez. Aimer Goni Lacabe and Arturo Coello completed the clean sweep, beating A M Miranda and S N Rodriguez 6-1, 6-3.
Hosts Qatar, meanwhile, missed a golden opportunity to put first points on the board.
Qatar went down fighting to Chile in a gripping Group C clash, with the South Americans fighting back late in the third game to win 2-1.
Rashed Nawaf and Mashari Nawaf gave Qatar the perfect start, defeating M. Negrete Oliva and D Salinas Ordenes 6-3, 6-3 in the opening match.
However, Chile levelled the tie through J Valdes and C Molina, who beat Mohammed Al-Khanji and Khalid Saadon Alkuwari 6-3, 6-2.
The deciding match went down to the wire, with Chile’s S Munoz Campos and A Torres fighting back after losing the opening set to overcome Mohammed Saadon Alkuwari and Hassan Adel Waly 2-6, 7-6, 6-3.
France bounced back with a convincing 3-0 victory over Australia in Group A, while Sweden also recorded a clean sweep against the United Arab Emirates in Group B. Both nations dominated their ties, winning all three matches in straight sets.
Earlier, seven nations maintained their unbeaten records after the second round of women’s ties, with Spain, Argentina, France, Italy, Sweden, Portugal and the Netherlands recording their second victories.
Defending champions Spain continued their strong Group A campaign with a 3-0 victory over Great Britain, while Germany boosted their knockout-stage hopes with a comeback win over Brazil.
In Group B, Argentina swept Belgium 3-0, while France also recorded a clean sweep against Chile. The two unbeaten teams will meet in their next tie with top spot at stake.
Italy and Sweden maintained their perfect records in Group C, beating Indonesia and Egypt respectively, both by 3-0 margins.
In Group D, Portugal defeated Paraguay 3-0, while the Netherlands recovered from losing the opening match to beat the United States 2-1, setting up a crucial clash between the two unbeaten sides.
