by Malta’s Matthew Asciak and Elaine Genovese teamed up against Cypriots Maria Constantinou and Eleftherios Neos for the Mixed Doubles semi-final. Having gone the distance to a deciding tie-break following 6-4, and 0-6 sets, it was a match that had hearts racing on both ends, but ultimately shattered locals’ hearts as Team Malta bowed out at 14-12 in the tie-break.
Balancing Sets
Team Malta opened the first set on serve and the two teams exchanged holds comfortably for the first six games. However, trouble was afoot for the Maltese duo as they fell to a 15-40 deficit in the seventh game. Up against two break points, the two rallied together, with Genovese lobbing the Cypriots and Neos firing a tweener which landed kindly for Matthew Asciak to smash home. However, the Cypriots came roaring back in the next point to secure the opening break.
An interesting turn of events followed as Malta eyed the break and seemed to have secured it in the next match, only for the Umpire to call the point against them. However, Cypriot Neos showed excellent sportsmanship to give up the break to Team Malta stating that the ball was in fact in and that the Maltese deserved the point. At 4-4, the Cypriots had no trouble as Constantinou returned fire to earn a break point before a miscued return from Team Malta confirmed the second break for the team in blue. They then secured the set on serve with three set points in hand, closing it at 6-4.
Malta came out firing on all cylinders in the second set, holding the opening game comfortably. A controversial game ensued, with a questionable call from the Umpire. This time it was against the Cypriots, who called out to Team Malta to return the favour done earlier but the Maltese did not budge deeming it to have been much too close in this case. Team Malta then followed it up with holds and breaks to completely shut out the opposition and took the second set 6-0, thus forcing a deciding tie-break.
Drama & Heartache in the Tie-Break
Following a bathroom break, the Cypriots returned fresh on the court and opened a 2-0 lead on their serve. Though Asciak took home a point with a forehand down the line, miscued shots followed to hand the Cypriots a 4-1 lead. Elaine Genovese then took hold of the serve, which Neos could not return, earning Malta 4-2. Exchanges continued as a miscued backhand volley handed Cyprus 5-2, before Genovese reduced the deficit with a backhand volley to 5-3.
Team Cyprus ramped up their aggression with the next point to get to 6-3, but the Maltese made their serve pay to cancel the deficit again and get back level to 7-7, to a roar from the crowd who recovered their belief. However, Team Cyprus fought back and got to match point at 9-7, only to hit the net before Asciak and Genovese delivered an almighty combination to get back to 9-9. Team Malta then got their noses into the lead for the first time in the tie-break as Asciak’s serve was not returned, earning the first match point for Malta at 9-10. However, a similar point ensued on the other side as Neos took serve and canceled the match point. It was followed by another match point for Malta as Genovese landed the next punch with a lobbed finish at 10-11.
Yet again the Cypriots fought back to cancel it, before Genovese took hold of serve and Constantinou smashed straight into the net to hand Malta their third match point. A miscued return got Cyprus level at 12-12, before another got them into the lead. They made their second match point in hand stick as they returned Asciak’s serve, clipping the line to take the victory at 14-12, shattering the home crowd and giving confidence to their troops who made their own voices heard.
The loss sees Malta bow out of the competition, with the final between Team Cyprus (Constantinou and Neos) and Team Luxembourg (Alex Knaff and Eleonora Molinaro) pencilled in for Friday at the Marsa Sports Ground. It will be scheduled on a follow-by basis after the Women’s Doubles and Men’s Singles finals respectively.
Photo: Alan Turnbull
