The third day of the XX Mediterranean Games delivered a massive shock to the padel world as Egypt’s Youssef Hossam and Georges Wakim eliminated the top-seeded Spanish duo, Pol Hernandez and Guille Collado. This historic victory has reshaped the tournament bracket, setting the stage for high-stakes quarter-final matchups featuring Italy and France.
The Upset and Quarter-Final Outlook
The match on the Central Court at Parco della Salinella was a grueling two-hour battle that saw the Egyptian pair demonstrate remarkable resilience. After clinching the first set 6-4, they dropped the second by the same score, leading to a tense decider. In a dramatic finish, Hossam and Wakim saved a match point while trailing 4-5 in the third set, ultimately rallying to win 7-5. For Hossam, the victory was particularly meaningful, as it marked his return to competitive play following a months-long recovery from a hip injury.
Following this monumental upset, the tournament moves into the quarter-final stage with several key pairings confirmed:
- Hossam/Wakim (Egypt) vs. Cassetta/Iacovino (Italy): After their historic win, the Egyptian pair will face the Italian duo of Marco Cassetta and Simone Iacovino, who earned their spot by defeating Morocco’s Alami and El Amrani in straight sets, 6-4 6-4.
- Abbate/Montiel (Italy) vs. Blanqué/Guichard (France): The second Italian pair, Flavio Abbate and Alvaro Montiel, dominated their match against Albania’s Curri and Naska with a decisive 6-1 6-0 victory. They are set to face France’s Bastien Blanqué and Dylan Guichard, who advanced after a comfortable 6-2 6-2 win over Monaco’s Fedoroff and Minioni.
This set of matches promises a thrilling continuation of the event, with the Italian and French squads now positioned for a high-intensity clash often referred to as the Padel Clásico.
