by The number four seeds Arthur Bouquier and Valentin De Carvalho came back from a set down to force a tie-break which they won 10-6 reach the semi-finals in the M15 tournament being held in Monastir.
A Single Break Settles the First Set
Bouquier and De Carvalho started the match on serve, in a tight opening set that saw the two teams hold serve convincingly. In fact, neither side was able to get a glimpse at a break point for the first ten games. In fact, Degabriele and Gauci extended the set when they held to love to even the score 5-5.
The all-important break came in the next game as Bouquier and De Carvalho attempted to secure another hold. Though they won the first point, Degabriele and Gauci claimed the next three to earn two break points. Although the number four seeds cancelled one with an ace, the Maltese-Australian duo secured the break with the next point to nudge forward 6-5.
Despite being broken, Bouquier and De Carvalho threatened a break back in the next game, also securing two break-points at 15-40. However, Degabriele and Gauci cancelled both before winning the deciding point to claim the first set, 7-5.
Bouquier and De Carvalho Dominate Second Set
The number four seeds opened the second set with vengeance. They went on a roll of twelve consecutive points, thus completely shutting out Degabriele and Gauci for the first three games to lead by 3-0.
Though the Maltese-Australian duo were close to getting on the scoreboard in the next game, Bouquier and De Carvalho forced a deuce and won the deciding point. They held serve in the next game, extending their lead to 5-0. Degabriele and Gauci held serve for the first time in the set to get on the scoreboard in the next game, but Bouquier and De Carvalho secured the set in the following one, 6-1.
Tie-Break
The Maltese-Australian duo opened the tie-break with an ace, but the two sides exchanged points, keeping in touch with each other until 4-4. Bouquier and De Carvalho then sensed an opportunity and won the next four points to open an 8-4 lead.
Degabriele and Gauci kept their resolve and won the next two to reduce the gap to 8-6. However, the number four seeds had too much firepower. They secured the tie-break by winning the next two points 10-6, and thus completed the comeback to progress to the semi-finals.
Arthur Bouquier and Valentin De Carvalho will next contest the Mexican duo Daniel Moreno and Alan Fernando Rubio Fierros for a spot in the final.
Lead Images (clockwise from top left): Valentin de Carvalho / Kyle Gauci / Arthur Bouquier / Alex Degabriele
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