Dazzling doubles action delivered at latest Brazil teqball tour stop

The world number two ranked team in women’s doubles, Natalia Guitler and Rafaella Fontes, did not drop a single set as they emerged as dominant champions at the latest instalment of the Brazil Teqball Tour, which took place from 20-22 May in Olinda. The men’s doubles competition was won by Leonardo Lindoso De Almeida and Leonardo Santana, with Rodrigo Bento Medeiros and Ester Viana Mendes winning the mixed doubles event.

The event in the north-eastern city of Olinda was the Brazil Teqball Tour’s second stop in 2022, following on from Porto Alegre in March. The best players from across the country gathered to compete in what was a highly competitive event due to the depth of talent in Brazilian teqball.

Guitler and Fontes were hungry for gold after they finished as runners up in the women’s doubles at the Teqball World Series in Paris in March, so seeing them drop just 13 points in the group stage on the way to a perfect 6:0 start was a warning sign for all women’s doubles competitors in Olinda. The pair went on to win both the semi-final and final 2-0, with an impressive 12-8, 12-5 victory over world number 12 women’s doubles players, Thuany Karoline Platt and Vania Moraes Da Cruz, in the final.

The men’s doubles saw eight pairings qualify from four groups. Matheus Ferraz and Rodrigo Bento Medeiros, and Leonardo Lindoso De Almeida and Leonardo Santana both emerged with perfect 6:0 records. After four exciting quarter finals, including a thrilling 2-1 (7-12, 12-5, 17-15) victory for Luiz Fernando De Mendonca De Lima and Claudio Davi Ponte Dos Santos, the semi-finals were set.

Both semi-finals were back and forth affairs that finished 2-1, setting up an exciting finale which was won 2-1 (10-12, 12-4, 12-7) by Leonardo Lindoso De Almeida and Leonardo Santana, despite an impressive showing from Luiz Fernando De Mendonca De Lima and Claudio Davi Ponte Dos Santos. Carlos Vasques and 2019 mixed doubles world champion Marcos Vieira won the bronze match with an impressive 2-0 (12-10, 12-6) victory.

In the mixed doubles, 18 pairings were divided into 4 groups followed by the quarter-finals. Eventual champions Rodrigo Bento Medeiros and Ester Viana Mendes, and Vania Moraes Da Cruz and Leonardo Lindoso De Almeida, both completed the group stage unbeaten and without dropping a single set before meeting in the final, which was won 2-1 (7-12, 12-10, 12-7) by Medeiros and Mendes.

A highly successful event left the athletes and fans with an appetite for more, so it will be no surprise to see another thrilling affair at next edition of the Brazil Teqball Tour!