Alvaro ROBLES and Maria XIAO clinched the gold medal in the Mixed Doubles event at the LIEBHERR European Championships in Linz. In the final they overcame Robert GARDOS and Sofia POLCANOVA of Austria. Bronze medalists are Simon GAUZY and Prithika PAVADE of France as well as Patrick FRANZISKA and Annett KAUFMANN of Germany.
In the final ROBLES and XIAO dominated.
“We played at an amazing level in both the final and the semifinal earlier today. It is normal that you have to play at the top level if you want to win a title at the European Championships but with this performance we even amazed ourselves. We were fantastic ” said Alvaro.
Maria added: “In the important moments we were at the top of our game and managed the crucial moments superbly.”
Alvaro and Maria started playing together before COVID and this is their first major title in mixed doubles.
“We won titles in one WTT Feeder and Contender but this one is special ” said Alvaro.
“This one will stay with us forever ” added Maria.
This is the second title ever at the European Championships for Spain and the first with two Spanish players. SHEN Yanfei won the Women’s Doubles in 2015 with HU Melek (TUR).
Robert GARDOS is the oldest European champion ever at the age of 45. The previous record for a finalist was held by Xia Lian NI of Luxembourg who reached the ultimate stage at the age of 44 while the oldest winner is LI Jiao of the Netherlands who won at the age of 38.
Sofia POLCANOVA: “It was a very long day; I played four matches and won three. The Spanish team were better congratulations. We didn’t play badly but it wasn’t enough. Considering how we started—we almost got knocked out in the first round—we can be absolutely happy with silver.”
Robert GARDOS: “It was a tough and long tournament; we kept improving and played at one of our best levels. Unfortunately it didn’t work out in the final. It was just little things but that’s the way it is. Of course it would have been nice to win but it’s not a request show.”
Bronze medalists from Munich 2022 Robert GARDOS and Sofia POLCANOVA kept the audience in TipsArena on the edge of their seats in a thrilling five-game semifinal match against Patrick FRANZISKA and Annett KAUFMANN. Both pairings had four match balls in the nail-biting finish of the fifth game but it was Austria’s duo who converted it into victory with a huge roar from the stands.
“It was an incredible match; we both played very well and gave everything over five sets. They really challenged us and we can be very proud. It might have even been our best game. It was fantastic ” said GARDOS.
Alvaro ROBLES and Maria XIAO overcame Simon GAUZY and Prithika PAVADE in four games.
“I don’t know what makes us happier—the fact that we reached the final or that we just beat such strong adversaries. We produced the game at the highest level ” explained Alvaro.
Maria added: “The last game was very close but we played bravely and were very precise. I really did not expect such a good outcome.”
Final
Alvaro ROBLES Maria XIAO (Spain) – Robert GARDOS Sofia POLCANOVA (Austria) 3-0 (11-8 11-9 12-10)
Semi final
Robert GARDOS Sofia POLCANOVA (Austria) – Patrick FRANZISKA Annett KAUFMANN (Germany) 3-2 (11-8 10-12 12-14 11-9 16-14)
Simon GAUZY Prithika PAVADE (France) – Alvaro ROBLES Maria XIAO (Spain) 1-3 (8-11 5-11 11-9 9-11)
