The Chilean won the match 6-3, 5-7 and 6-4. This is the country’s first place in the discipline during these Parapan American Games.
Gold for Chile in wheelchair tennis. Francisco Cayulef won the country’s first gold medal in this discipline after a high-intensity final against Canadian Robert Shaw. It was a 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 victory for the Melipilla-based tennis player.
The national representative got off to a good start in the hot Santiago morning, immediately demonstrating the high level that led him to the definition of the mixed quad. He beat his rival from the start and despite later losing the lead from the penalty spot, he still managed to stay one step ahead, closing the set with a resounding 6-3.
The story was similar at the start of the second set, where after a break in the fourth game, it was 3-1 and serve. Surprisingly, it was precisely at this moment, where Shaw even showed all his frustration, that Cayulef suffered his second break of the day. There, everything started to change.
Despite the support of the public, who came in large numbers despite the time (11:00) and the heat of the capital, the Chilean remained firm in the complex moments of the match, when, for example, he saved two breaks in the match. ninth game, finally the set ended up going to the American.
Of course, the most dramatic moment of the set came in the tenth game, when Cayulef scored a championship point. He even managed to celebrate for a few seconds, because he threw a ball that was initially considered good. Madness broke out in the stands, but after review by the referee, it was determined that it had been a long time. The situation undoubtedly affected, because after that he lost both points of the match and was immediately broken. The set was 7-5 for Shaw.
So, everything was defined in a third set. It was a partial with two very marked moments. At the beginning there was great parity between the players, but as the game progressed, Cayulef took a step forward. Two breaks left him at 5-3 and on serve, just four points from gold. Moment when there was drama again. He failed to secure his serve and everything dragged on until the tenth game.
It was there that he could finally taste victory. He did it without question and beating his rival without losing any points. A historic 6-4 for Chile and wheelchair tennis.
With feelings on the surface, the gold medalist sent a powerful message to those present at the center court of the National Stadium Tennis Centre. “I’m very excited, sorry if I break down, but it’s years of work, it’s years of effort, it’s family effort. Thanks to my son, my wife, who are there. I would like to congratulate Robert who played an excellent match and was a worthy rival. He deserves all my respect…Dream, dream, work to dream. Sooner or later dreams come true . Thank you God, thank you everyone, I’m really excited,” he commented in tears.
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Source: Latercera
I’m Rose Brown , a journalist and writer with over 10 years of experience in the news industry. I specialize in covering tennis-related news for Athletistic, a leading sports media website. My writing is highly regarded for its quick turnaround and accuracy, as well as my ability to tell compelling stories about the sport.
