On November 7, Portugal entered Grand Stand 1 court of the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex with a clear goal: to defend the bronze medal won at the 2024 World Championship. To this end, the Portuguese team fielded several of its top players of the moment. Among them were those responsible for opening the match: Peu Araújo and Pedro Graça.

The highest-ranked Portuguese pair on the international scene resorted to various sliced lobs and cross-court shots by three to win the first set against Flavio Abbate and Álvaro Montiel.

They continued with the same rhythm in the second set. Nonetheless, when they were just one point away from winning the first point of the match, a questionable call completely altered the outcome of the set.

The controversy arose when, from a cross shot by Pedro Graça, doubt emerged about whether Álvaro Montiel had managed to block it or not. The issue was decisive, given that Peu Araújo was awaiting the referee’s signal to end the play – which would have meant, at that moment, immediate victory for Portugal.

However, this did not happen. The referee did not react, and Araújo continued the game. Uncertainty lingered among the spectators, and in the absence of a referee review system (VAR), the match continued with a point that ultimately went to the Italian side.

[Padel Information: after repeatedly reviewing the footage of the play, we were able to confirm that Montiel did not make contact with the ball, and therefore the point should have been awarded to Portugal]. It is incomprehensible that in a competition of this magnitude, in which a bronze medal was at stake, the same competitive conditions that were ensured on the central court, where the gold medal was contested, were not guaranteed.

Araújo, in turn, did not agree with the referee’s decision and expressed his dissatisfaction with an attitude that resulted in a warning. With the Portuguese visibly shaken, Italy took advantage to move ahead in the match (4-6, 7-6, and 7-6).

But the Portuguese delegation still had much to say. Miguel Deus and Nuno Deus were the next to take to the court. The brothers were coming from an especially challenging season, due to the injury that Miguel suffered at the beginning of the season, which kept him away for approximately five months.

Nonetheless, this factor did not prevent them from presenting their best performance of the year. With attitude, determination, and a strong desire to prove that they were there to win, they restored equality on the scoreboard against Aris Patiniotis and Giulio Graziotti (6-4, 3-6, and 6-4). Diogo Jesus and Pedro Perry took on the responsibility of closing the session. Against Marco Cassetta and Simone Iacovino, the Portuguese duo responded with authority, set the pace, and, without giving their opponents any opportunities, brought the tie to a close (6-4 and 6-1).

The fight for the bronze was marked by the considerable competitive progress of both teams. Regarding the Portuguese delegation, the emphasis on team work throughout the year – notably in the duo formed by Araújo and Graça, who have been competing side by side throughout the season – resulted in a substantial improvement in their tactical level.

After a final that lasted more than five hours, Portugal once again etched its name among the best teams in the world by winning the bronze medal with a 2-1 victory over Italy.