GB Men’s Head Coach John Leach says he has no fears over lifting his side for their third versus fourth shoot out with Germany with the final World Championship qualification place at stake.
A partnership of experience and youth featuring Richard Brooks and Nikhil Mohindra went down 6-2, 6-2 before Sam Jones and Louie Harris were also beaten in two very tight sets 6-4, 6-4 as the Portuguese, who will be looking to finish in the top-six in Dubai, proved just too strong for Leach’s men in their play-off semi-final at We Are Padel Derby.
Barely had Team GB been defeated and with Ryan Wyatt and Chris Salisbury still on court in the dead rubber it was confirmed that the third v fourth encounter would be starting 90 minutes later.
But Leach says his boys are ready and willing to wreak revenge on the Germans who defeated them at the 2022 World Cup, he fired: “We really have to focus on our next match which is Germany now and I have no worries about getting the boys up for it. There is one place at the World Cup left and we want to be on that plane for Dubai.
“We had great backing this morning and I reckon that will be going up a notch or two and a few decibels as well for Germany.
“So we will shake the Portugal game off and give it everything against Germany and we owe them one so the motivation is huge and that is the case for both sides.”
Reflecting on the Portuguese defeat Leach, who recovered from COVID in time to take his place on the GB bench after missing the opening day, says there is no disgrace in losing to a team he rates very highly and is confident will be in for a strong World Championships.
The GB Men’s coach said: “Portugal for sure were the strongest team here and for us to draw them in the semis was a bit unfortunate but you have to take the draw the way it falls. They have world class players and they belong in the World Cup.
“We knew it would be tough and it was a great learning experience for the guys to test themselves against the Portuguese and they will benefit from that as they need to play against these guys to understand their level.”
The Germans will be disappointed to find themselves in the third and fourth shoot-out after seeming to have the upper hand in their semi with deadly rivals the Dutch.
The Deutsche top team of Matthias Wunner and Johannes Lindermayer claimed the first set on the tie-break against Sten Richters and Bram Meijers, who have been sweeping all before them on the FIP RISE Tour, but the double Dutch regrouped to win 6-4, 6-3.
When the Dutch claimed the second rubber 6-1, 6-3 sparking wild ‘Oranjeboom’ celebrations on court, the scene was set for the revenge match between GB and Germany with everything on the line.
