by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Favourites for gold, they accounted for the combination of Germany’s Patrick Baum and the Slovak Republic’s Thomas Keinath in three straight games (11-8, 11-7, 11-9) to arrest the title.

 “We did not lose any games, we won all the matches three-nil. It is one more title for our doubles partnership and one more for Brazil. It shows we have a lot of potential to win more double titles.” Gustavo Tsuboi

The first two games secured, the European combination appeared to be mounting a recovery in the third game. They went ahead 5-2, the stage at which there was a short break in play, the ball split and had to be replaced. Certainly the Brazilians took a liking to the new ball, they won the next four points to establish a 6-5 lead. Immediately Patrick Baum signalled “Time Out”.

Advice for the Brazilians from Jean-René Mounié, all smiles Hugo Calderano and Gustavo Tsuboi returned to the table; for Patrick Baum and Thomas Keinath they were left to their own devices.

Patrick Baum and Thomas Keinath levelled proceedings; points were shared, again at 9-all it was parity. Gustavo Tsuboi served, Patrick Baum returned into the net; match point, it was duly converted, a controlled backhand top spin down the line from Hugo Calderano left Thomas Keinath stranded. Brazil celebrated.

“Of course it was a very good result. We are very happy to have played together for the first time and come to final.” Thomas Keinath

It was for Patrick Baum and Thomas Keinath their first ever appearance as a partnership in either an ITTF World Tour or ITTF Challenge Series Men’s Doubles final

“We lost the first two games, it was decisive to the rest of the match, it was difficult to play with from two-nil down.” Patrick Baum

Meanwhile, for Hugo Calderano and Gustavo Tsuboi, it was their fourth such appearance. On the ITTF World Tour, last December they won in Sweden, having been the runners up in 2015 in Sweden and earlier this year in Hungary.