In a one-sided final, Gonzalo Escobar and Aleksandr Nedovyesov lifted their first trophy together in Båstad at the Nordea Open. They defeated 2022 champion Rafael Matos and Francisco Cabral in two straight sets 6-2, 6-2.
The capricious weather delayed the start of play for the doubles final, but a crowd of true tennis fans gathered to fill the stands. This year the doubles final saw the return of one of its champions, Brazil’s Rafael Matos together with a new partner, Francisco Cabral. True to the Scandinavian motto “det finns inget dåligt väder bara dåliga kläder” (there’s no bad weather, only bad clothing motto) play started on a packed Court No. 1.
For their first meeting on tour, it was the Ecuadorian and Kazakh pair who were the most aggressive from the start, immediately putting the pressure on Rafael Matos and Francisco Cabral. At 3-2 broke their opponents to take a solid lead. The 2022 champion’s powerful cross court forehand could not prevent Escobar and Nedovyesov from pounding their clinical volleys on the court. They captured the first set unchallenged 6-2.
The Ecuadorian and Kazakhstani that reached the final at ’s-Hertogenbosch on their debut as a pair earlier this year, did not leave any breathing space for their rivals. With a stronger game plan, they sailed towards their first title. As the clouds looked ever more menacing at 5-2, Gonzalo Escobar and Aleksandr Nedovyesov raised their level yet again to conclude the match 6-2.
During the trophy ceremony, former champion Rafael Matos, though disappointed with his performance of the day, praised his opponents’ game. Delighted to win his first level tour title, Nevodyesov almost forgot to pick up his trophy en route to offer the winner’s champagne bottle to his team. But after a quick round of honor on Court No. 1, it was smiles only for the Ecuadorian and Kazakhstani pair for their first trophy at the Nordea Open.