#tennis in pan american games 2023

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Panam 2023 🎾 MS F: Facundo Diaz Acosta [1] def. M. Tomas Barrios Vera 6-3, 7-6(5) [4] Match Stats

📸 Panam Sports Channel

Diaz Acosta initially had a solid start for a set and a half until Barrios Vera started to be inspired and almost pulled a comeback, only for Diaz Acosta’s return depth and more controlled aggression (through his forehand) to turn the momentum around again in the tie-breaker, with point construction being the other factor as evident in several important passes. This way, he tried to get Barrios Vera uncomfortable through several angles as a result of his generated power, which got flipped for several moments during the other half of the second set, resulting in Barrios Vera winning 3 more points on return than Diaz Acosta. However, other than their stellar point construction, their consistent service game became even more crucial to complement such balance despite the risks taken (considering Diaz Acosta made 4 less unforced errors than Barrios Vera) and their willingness to take them based on their game, where Diaz Acosta slightly found them helpful to finally clinch the title, as explained below.

Despite the rollercoaster plaguing Diaz Acosta’s service game toward the end of the second set, he remained fairly consistent until the end of the match, which was evident from him winning 10 more points on serve than Barrios Vera (53 to 43). Even though Diaz Acosta landed 73% of his first serves, Barrios Vera ended up winning 7% more points from his first serves with a 75% winning percentage compared to Diaz Acosta’s 68%. On the other hand, Barrios Vera had some problems on his second serves, where Diaz Acosta completely took advantage from, which resulted in Diaz Acosta standing out through his second serves with a 71% winning rate than Barrios Vera’s 48%. The only ace of the match came from Diaz Acosta, through his first serves.

This victory resulted in Diaz Acosta’s gold medal, a first (and the only one) for Argentina for this year’s tennis other than 3 bronze medals (from Women’s Singles, Women's Doubles & Mixed Doubles) and a silver medal (Women’s Singles). Barrios Vera once again went home with 2 silver medals, including a Men’s Doubles silver from yesterday (with Alejandro Tabilo) that secured Chile’s only tennis medals for this year, and for the Men’s Singles sector, it was his second consecutive silver medals after Lima 2019. On the other hand, in an all-Brazilian bronze medal match, Thiago Monteiro went home with the bronze medal after defeating Gustavo Heide 1-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) in another different rollercoaster, making Brazil the “overall tennis winner” by bringing home 5 medals from 5 different sectors: 3 gold (Men’s & Women’s Doubles, Women’s Singles), 1 silver (Mixed Doubles), and 1 bronze (Men’s Singles). What a feat for Brazilian tennis as well, who also had Beatriz Haddad Maia winning the WTA Elite Trophy in singles and doubles earlier in the day.

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Luciana Moyano 🇦🇷

2023 Pan American Games (Santiago)

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@Mdemoliner

It's impossible to express this feeling of gratitude I've felt over the last 24 hours, but I'll try to describe what I'm feeling with words.

I grew up watching Pan and dreaming of some day winning a medal... and be the pan american champion A bold dream for a guri from South Caxias.

I'm 34 years old and never had a chance to compete in Pan. Tennis is an amazing sport but there are those. You cant control the injuries Everything has its own time.

Since 2019, when I couldn't play Pan de Lima due to injury, I kept dreaming of competing in the next edition.

Not many people know, but I suffered another injury a month ago in China. CRACK. Mid game ugly twist. Off court in a wheelchair to the hospital. Couldn't even see my ankle - it was tennis ball size. I've been thinking about it and decided not to talk about it publicly, I was heartbroken.

I started treatment as quickly as possible, aware that Pan, now in 2023, was once again at risk. I sought different treatments, dedicated myself 100% and continued to believe that I could be on the court.

It was VERY special to be able to make that dream come true not only mine, but also my parents, my wife, family, my team, my sponsors and so many of you who are with me on this journey. Heartfelt thanks to everyone who made me believe and celebrate with me today.

Hug from Demo 🥇🇧🇷

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Pan American Games 2023 (Day 4)

Men’s singles third round [6] Gustavo Heide (BRA) def. Justin Boulais (CAN) 6-3, 6-3

Mixed doubles quarterfinals [1] Marcelo Demoliner (BRA) / Luisa Stefani (BRA) def. Justin Boulais (CAN) / Rebecca Marino (CAN) 6-4, 3-6, [10-7]

(Picture : © Tennis Canada)

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📸 🎥 Panam Sports Channel

The second set became a little bit of a rollercoaster once Barrios Vera started raising his game, even had his moment somewhere, but Diaz Acosta still kept being clutch and got rewarded at the end despite the erroneous start. The erratic start came from the first game, where a backhand that was executed too far started the first point of the second set before another backhand error several points later caused Diaz Acosta’s 3 break points. Although they were saved at the cost of Diaz Acosta’s errors (a failed forehand down-the-line, an unreturned serve, and Barrios Vera’s forehand winner), Barrios Vera still had to face another break point before he finally held to 1-0. Diaz Acosta then followed with a clinical 0-hold to 1-1 before pressing Barrios Vera even further from the baseline. Thanks to his aggression controlled through his forehand, he opened his chance to break before he eventually got it thanks to a cross-court backhand winner. He then consolidated the lead to 3-1, with a stellar defense ending with a forehand get becoming one of the highlights of the match, which was constructed 2 points before the said service game hold.

Barrios Vera then hung on with a smooth service game hold to 3-2, but he started to put more pressure back to Diaz Acosta that resulted in the latter’s several unforced errors. Diaz Acosta tried to avoid more trouble with a backhand down-the-line winner, but Barrios Vera’s induced pressure started to be tangible once he had a cross-court forehand winner to secure his initial break point of that game. Diaz Acosta successfully foiled them and held his service game 4-2 thanks to an unreturned serve and a cross-court forehand error from Barrios Vera. Barrios Vera then held his service game to 4-3 despite Diaz Acosta’s forehand winner to Barrios Vera’s insufficient backhand response, but started to put more pressure right after his swift forehand return for an equalizer, eventually paying off when Diaz Acosta’s +1 shots erred due to Barrios Vera’s first strikes, including a backhand error that foiled his own game point and created Barrios Vera’s break point before its ultimate conversion to 4-4, hence the start of another different rollercoaster.

Even though the next few games became several consecutive holds, both players still tried to find their ways to keep pressuring the other. Diaz Acosta’s final smash set himself a point ahead even if Barrios Vera got out of trouble from his serves and held through a volley to 5-4. Diaz Acosta almost got caught in scoreboard pressure when Barrios Vera had a cross-court forehand passing shot to cause a deuce and force a decider, but he still managed to hold his service game to 5-5 thanks to his successful drop shot. It took two more consecutive holds before the tie-breaker had to settle the second set, which could determine how the rest of the match went.

In the second set tie-breaker, Barrios Vera initially had a forehand winner after an incredible defense to secure his one-point lead on his serve, and followed it up in an almost similar manner to secure the mini-break. He even led to 3-1 in the tie-breaker after Diaz Acosta’s forehand went too wide, but the Argentinean first seed took some risks from the baseline that was rewarded with a forehand winner to close the gap (3-2). Diaz Acosta then levelled the play through his forehand down-the-line winner, and the two consecutive holds afterward happened thanks to both players’ unreturned serves (4-4). It then appeared that Barrios Vera had second serve problems, which Diaz Acosta perfectly capitalized on through his forehand down-the-line winner, securing the match point 2 points later. Even if one of those was saved, Barrios Vera’s +1 forehand was executed too long, hence Diaz Acosta took the second set 7-6(5) for his Pan American Games tennis Men’s Singles gold medal, making Barrios Vera the silver medallist for the second consecutive iteration.

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📸 Panam Sports Channel

Closing the tennis field in this year’s Pan American Games is the Men’s Singles gold medal match between first seed Facundo Diaz Acosta, who previously defeated sixth seed Gustavo Heide 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(6) in an epic match full of rollercoaster, and home hope and fourth seed M. Tomas Barrios Vera, who defeated Thiago Monteiro 6-3, 6-1 in a lights-out performance during the semifinals. T. Monteiro ended up securing the Men’s Singles bronze for Brazil 1-6, 6-3, 7-6(5) in a topsy-turvy match while overcoming a sluggish start, leaving Diaz Acosta and Barrios Vera to battle it out for the gold for the night as the remaining match of the tennis field. Knowing both players’ depth and aggression, the possibility of everything boiling down to the pressure points arose, but the home crowd element could also be interesting to be looked out for as this match went by.

While Diaz Acosta tried to overcome a nervy start, Barrios Vera started to put more pressure from the baseline, which resulted in the former’s forehand and backhand errors for the latter’s 2-point lead. Somehow, Barrios Vera ended up foiling Diaz Acosta’s game point through a working drop shot, eventually creating 2 break points in the first set, one of which came from his cross-court volley before Diaz Acosta finally holding his service game to 1-0. Several games later, Diaz Acosta then tried to put more pressure back to Barrios Vera through his drop shot 2 points before the Chilean’s game point, which led to his break point thanks to his forehand winner before its conversion over a cross-court forehand winner (3-1), followed by a service game consolidation to 4-1.

Three consecutive holds later, Diaz Acosta had the opportunity to serve for the first set. Barrios Vera started to get ideas, considering Diaz Acosta’s possible tightness and his own margin of error, where the latter’s forehand that went too wide started the said service game. His response to Barrios Vera’s preceding forehand several points later was also insufficient, prompting the latter to press more from the net, where his volley ensured his 2-point lead before having a break point several moments later credits to his forehand winner. Thankfully, Diaz Acosta still kept his composure, eventually creating his set point thanks to another forehand winner before it was converted thanks to an unreturned serve to take the first set 6-3; and technically, he was one set away from the gold medal.

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Panam 2023 🎾 WS F: Laura Pigossi [1] def. Maria Lourdes Carle [3] 6-2, 6-3 Match Stats

📸 Time Brasil’s official YouTube

It was a statement gold for L. Pigossi, as she overcame a possible slow start to be in control of most of the flow. Her aggressive, clean ballstriking allowed her to dictate the play from the baseline, constructing even more winners in a defense-to-offense mechanism, which often caught Lourdes off-guard in construction. Her depth also allowed her to win 11 more points on return than Lourdes, who had 6 unforced errors throughout the whole match. Even if Lourdes tried to absorb the pace and respond in her own way, it was insufficient to counter L. Pigossi’s already established level from the setup.

On the other hand, L. Pigossi appeared more solid on serve. Despite Lourdes serving one ace to L. Pigossi’s 0, L. Pigossi was still able to win 80% points from her first serve compared to Lourdes’ 58%, standing out right from her first serves. On the other hand, L. Pigossi might have double-faulted twice (one more than Lourdes), but she was 14% ahead than Lourdes, who had a 50% second serve winning percentage, which resulted in the Brazilian first seed winning 8 more points on serve as the match went by.

This gold medal marked L. Pigossi’s second gold medal for this year (apart from yesterday’s Women’s Doubles with Luisa Stefani), making it the fourth tennis medal for Brazil (gold in Men’s, Women’s, and Mixed Doubles included). The bronze medal was won by Julia Riera, who defeated Rebecca Marino 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 two timeslots before the gold final), which resulted in Argentina adding another bronze (other than Martina Capurro/Facundo Diaz Acosta’s Mixed Doubles) and a silver to their tennis medal tallies. Definitely a deep talent pool, where everyone is looking forward to seeing them shine on Tour and Paris 2024 as well in particular for the qualified ones!

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📸 🎥 Time Brasil’s official YouTube

The second set started with 2 consecutive big holds from both players before L. Pigossi’s defense-to-offense mechanism started to work in the fourth game. Her volley started her one-point lead, followed by her defense that led to a forehand get (before Lourdes’ backhand unforced error), but another volley secured her the break point and converted it to 3-1. L. Pigossi then consolidated the lead to 4-1 thanks to her aggressive and clean ballstriking. Lourdes hung on by holding her service game to 4-2, followed by her successful drop shot to secure her 2-point lead before L. Pigossi saved them thanks to her point construction, both of which notably ended with a quick volley and a forehand pass, securing a massive hold to 5-2.

However, L. Pigossi almost found herself breaking for the match thanks to her defense, having a match point afterward. However, after her cross-court forehand and backhand error saved 2 of those match points, Lourdes came up with a forehand winner (right to the line, utilizing the open field) to force the first deuce. Lourdes eventually held that service game to 5-3, where L. Pigossi had to serve for the match after. Without any further ado, L. Pigossi successfully served it out to take the second set 6-3, adding another gold medal to her achievements this year (after yesterday’s Women’s Doubles gold), and making it fourth tennis medal for Brazil this year.

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📸 Time Brasil’s official YouTube

Tennis’ singles finals concluded the whole tennis field today (this Sunday local time) starting with fourth seed Julia Riera taking the bronze medal, winning 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 against second seed Rebecca Marino in a tight encounter. The gold medal match then commenced 2 timeslots after with first seed Laura Pigossi, who defeated J. Riera 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) in a close semifinal contest, faced third seed Maria Lourdes Carle, who stunned R. Marino 6-1, 6-4 in the semifinals. This could be a tricky affair for both players, but this could be interesting to see where both players could handle the game and pacing from.

Lourdes started aggressively by going after L. Pigossi’s forehands, which ended up being misfired for her 2-point lead. However, L. Pigossi started to regain her pace, holding her service game 1-0 as a result. Just two points into the second game, when J. Riera tried to respond to L. Pigossi’s preceding shot with her forehand, her finger started to bleed, prompting an impromptu medical timeout. By the conclusion of the medical timeout, L. Pigossi kept her rhythm from earlier in the first set to appear even more aggressive, where Lourdes’ forehand errors caused the creation of the first seed’s break point before her powerful forehand winner converted it to 2-0, consolidating the lead to 3-0 right after. Her forehand winners continued to strike, with an efficient ballstriking as the match went by.

Somehow, L. Pigossi almost doubled her break when she came up with another forehand winner to open the path before generating her break point, to no avail as Lourdes held her service game to 4-2. Lourdes’ forehand winner in the subsequent game foiled L. Pigossi’s game point, as well as causing a deuce, but L. Pigossi averted further damage and held her serve to 5-2. Ultimately, L. Pigossi had 2 set points in the next game at the cost of Lourdes’ forehand unforced error to cause the deuce, before it was converted for the same reason even if Lourdes tried to save it with a working smash.

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Panam 2023 🎾 XD F: Yuliana Lizarazo/Nicolas Barrientos [2] def. Luisa Stefani/Marcelo Demoliner [1] 6-3, 6-4 Match Stats

📸 Time Brasil's official YouTube

The balance became the most important key under pressure, which Y. Lizarazo/N. Barrientos tried to maintain during the most important moments. While both pairs often created their chances from the net, it appeared that the first seeds utilized the open court more to hit winners right as they brought M. Demoliner/L. Stefani to the net, or vice versa with a notable working lob/forehand, which then concerned their shot placements in these situations. This not only helped them to get out of trouble outside of having a reliable service game, but also allowing them to win 6% more return points thanks to such intuitive point construction as the match went by.

Service game-wise, it might have appeared that Y. Lizarazo/N. Barrientos also relied on their second serves to make their rallies count despite the risks posed by their first serves. Even if both pairs scored just an ace, M. Demoliner/L. Stefani still stood out by 18% in their first serves winning percentage, but Y. Lizarazo/N. Barrientos were 7% away from second serves perfection, and all of these happened despite them winning 1% lesser points on their serves, which signified the thin difference between both pairs, bar the aforementioned pressure points.

Y. Lizarazo/N. Barrientos' win means Colombia spoiled Brazil's potential doubles medal sweep, but it also meant Colombia's first tennis (gold) medal of the year. On the other hand, Facundo Diaz Acosta/Martina Capurro clinched the bronze medal after defeating fourth seeds Conner Huertas del Pino/Romina Ccuno 6-1, 6-4 in one of the neighboring courts. The doubles action, some or most, delivered right in the most important moments.

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📸 🎥 Time Brasil's official YouTube

M. Demoliner/L. Stefani tried to step up and created their chances in the second set, but ultimately it was N. Barrientos/Y. Lizarazo that came in a clutch in such important moments. Initially, L. Stefani's volley set her and M. Demoliner a point ahead before the latter's volley also created their break point, but they were saved by most of N. Barrientos/Y. Lizarazo's reliable serves, including serve+1s (with a forehand for its closing) for them to finally hold their service game 2-2, which might asked the question on which pair controlled the flow. The next two consecutive gamed also ended with a hold, and while M. Demoliner's volley to start the sixth game almost set a gate-opener, it was N. Barrientos' volley that overcame M. Demoliner's reflexes for an equalizer, eventually held to 3-3.

The pressure started kicking for M. Demoliner/L. Stefani, with an important lob that got M. Demoliner run over to start opening their chances before an error spree caused M. Demoliner/L. Stefani to face 2 break points. Eventually, the latter saved one of those through a working serve+1, but N. Barrientos' forehand winner was inevitable that converted the Colombians' break point to 4-3, consolidating the lead to 5-3 slightly after despite a stiff opposition from the Brazilian first seeds. Ultimately, Y. Lizarazo/N. Barrientos had the chance to serve for the match, where they did without any further ado to take the second set 6-4, winning them Colombia's first (and only) tennis medal of the year.

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📸 Time Brasil's official YouTube

Right after the Men's Doubles final, the night in the Pan American Games wrapped up with the Mixed Doubles final between first seeds Marcelo Demoliner/Luisa Stefani, who defeated Martina Capurro/Facundo Diaz Acosta 6-2, 6-4 in the semifinals, and second seeds Nicolas Barrientos/Yuliana Lizarazo, who defeated fourth seeds Conner Huertas del Pino/Romina Ccuno 6-3, 7-6(4) later that day. The match turned out to be another close encounter, but compared to being a potential classic, the pressure points turned out to be another different matter.

After a neat start in the first few games, the net game through the volleys became an important determinant toward the end of the first set. From their volleys, N. Barrientos/Y. Lizarazo was able to press M. Demoliner/L. Stefani more, which resulted in their one-point lead and eventually, converting the break point made out of the latter pair's unforced error to 5-3. This allowed N. Barrientos/Y. Lizarazo to serve for the first set, which was ultimately sealed with an ace to make it 6-3.

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Panam 2023 🎾 MS F: Marcelo Demoliner/Gustavo Heide [1] def. Alejandro Tabilo/M. Tomas Barrios Vera 6-1, 2-6, [10-7] Match Stats

📸 TyC Sports

Most parts of this chaotic match were return game-oriented, where their rally finishes became the most important things that carried the flow. However, when one got carried away with the flow, the other pair had not looked back since, which often raised some momentum (and depth) question as the match went by. This explained the thin margin between both pairs on return, with M. Demoliner/G. Heide winning 2% more points on return than Tabilo/Barrios Vera, who had 7 opportunities to break throughout the whole match. However, it appeared that the Brazilian first seeds maximized their chance more with 66% break point conversion rate even if they were one break point short, showing how thin the margin was throughout the rallies despite the score.

Interestingly, both pairs had their own service game strengths. M. Demoliner/G. Heide might have relied more on their second serves than first, but they only won 4% lesser points from their second serves than Tabilo/Barrios Vera even if they double-faulted twice, and took that risk to control some other parts of the flow. On the other hand, Tabilo/Barrios Vera won more points on serve by 3%, mostly thanks to their first serves winning percentage, where they led by 13% (72% to 59%), but this was despite both pairs only scoring one ace throughout the whole match.

G. Heide/M. Demoliner’s gold medal secured the second tennis gold medal for Brazil in hopes for a doubles sector sweep with both Women’s and Mixed Doubles as well, with M. Demoliner coming back on court several minutes after this one with Luisa Stefani to take on Nicolas Barrientos/Yuliana Lizarazo from Colombia for another gold medal. On the other hand, another bronze was added to the Dominican Republic collection as Nick Hardt/Roberto Cid Subervi defeated Costa Rican pair Jesse Flores/Rodrigo Crespo 7-6(4), 4-6, [12-10] in the neighboring court. A potential Brazilian doubles dominance could be on its way, but with stiffer opposition as time went by!

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📸 🎥 TyC Sports

M. Demoliner/G. Heide controlled most of the match tie-break flow, but despite Tabilo/Barrios Vera’s best efforts to come back, it was insufficient for them to turn the tables around again at the cost of a crucial unforced error. After an unreturned serve to start the tie-breaker, M. Demoliner’s successful volley confirmed the Brazilian first seeds’ lead to 2-0 before Tabilo/Barrios Vera started to catch up throught heir net game despite the former pair holding their service game to 3-1 slightly after. However, while the chance for the Chilean pair opened with M. Demoliner/G. Heide’s double fault, the Brazilian pair still got the situation under control until they lead 5-3 somewhere after Barrios Vera’s cross-court forehand winner.

G. Heide then continued with a volley winner on their serve to 6-3, with the gap being closed by Barrios Vera’s forehand that caught G. Heide off-guard at the net. It took several points later for the home pair to hang on until Tabilo’s forehand to G. Heide’s failed volley again minimized the gap even further to 7-6, with a forehand winn to equalize the point to 7-7. However, a baseline exchange that ended in Barrios Vera’s backhand error became more costly since it led to M. Demoliner/G. Heide having a mini-break to 8-7, which was followed by 2 unreturned serves not only to secure M. Demoliner/G. Heide’s match point, but also converted it to win the match tie-break 10-7, as well as contributing to Brazil’s second tennis gold medal of the Games.

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📸 TyC Sports

The second set turned out to be another level of chaos as Tabilo/Barrios Vera started to step up in to continue the second set, and the role of the crowd in lifting them was also impeccable. This way, Tabilo/Barrios Vera was able to press M. Demoliner/G. Heide more, often resulting in them having to stay back in most occasions of the set during the point construction. Here was how everything unfolded.

In the first game, Tabilo’s preceding forehand (where he finally felt comfortable hitting through the angles) to M. Demoliner/G. Heide’s unforced error resulted in the creation of their break points before it was converted to 1-0 after another baseline error, followed by Tabilo/Barrios Vera’s service game hold to 2-0, which was a massive hold thanks to Tabilo’s better volleying in an attempt to close the rally. They tried to dominate from their return side, including a forehand return ace from Barrios Vera to set themselves a point ahead, but G. Heide’s final smash on the deciding point several points after saving Tabilo/Barrios Vera’s break point (made out of Tabilo’s forehand winner) turned out to be in to secure the service game hold to 3-1. M. Demoliner/G. Heide followed that up by holding their service games to 3-2.

Subsequently, Tabilo/Barrios Vera somehow had another break point at the cost of M. Demoliner/G. Heide’s unforced error, which was converted thanks to Tabilo’s working volley to double the break 5-2 after the Chilean pair held their service game again to 4-2. They then had the opportunity to serve for the second set, where despite having to survive a scare in forms of a working volley from M. Demoliner/G. Heide, Tabilo/Barrios Vera successfully took the second set 6-2 with an unreturned serve, bringing this match to the deciding match tie-break to settle the gold medallist (and silver) for this year’s Men’s Doubles.

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📸 TyC Sports

Today’s gold medal matches continue with the Men’s Doubles sector between first seeds Marcelo Demoliner/Gustavo Heide, who yesterday defeated fourth seeds from the Dominican Republic Nick Hardt/Roberto Cid Subervi 7-6(4), 6-3 in a close encounter to close the play, and home hopes Alejandro Tabilo/Tomas Barrios Vera, who straightforwardly defeated Rodrigo Crespo/Jesse Flores from Costa Rica 6-1, 6-3 to book their tickets in the finals. Knowing both pairs, pacing could be a tricky issue to solve while constructing their points, but this match turned out to had it all for some reasons, already making their mark since the first set.

Still in the first game, Barrios Vera’s forehand winner forced the deciding point before an unreturned serve from M. Demoliner/G. Heide allowed the Brazilian first seeds to hold their service games 1-1. Somehow, M. Demoliner’s working volley created the break point for them while trying to poach the shots coming from the preceding baseline exchange, which was saved before he and G. Heide got the break at the cost of Barrios Vera’s attempted forehand down-the-line attempt, which was too wide in execution. The Brazilian pair then consolidated their point to 3-1.

However, another set of unforced errors from Tabilo/Barrios Vera, especially Barrios Vera’s volley unforced error right on their break point, resulted in M. Demoliner/G. Heide doubling the break to 4-1, strengthening the lead to 5-1 right after to assert their dominance (and signify their clutchness) at the cost of Tabilo/Barrios Vera’s forehand error, even if the latter became a stiff opposition by that service game. In the subsequent game, M. Demoliner/G. Heide started to have more intuitive point construction under pressure, where their volleys not only created their initial set point, but also converted it 2 points later through G. Heide’s forehand winner to secure the first set breadstick to 6-1; which technically, set them one set away from adding another gold medal for Brazil in tennis.