Daniele Lupo / Paolo Nicolai Italy (8) def. Aleksandrs Samoilovs / Janis Smedins Latvia (5) 16-21, 21-14, 15-10 (44)
Paolo Nicolai, Italy - “The first match of a tournament is always strange because you have to find the right way on the court. You have the wind and all the other things with the court. I tried to change something (on serve) and I tried the right and then from the second to the end of the match I played like this with the serve. In the first set we played good and not so well and from the second we played at a high level and we won. For the Brazilian teams, they split the teams so it’s almost impossible to qualify for this tournament. For the U.S. teams we know that Phil and Nick are one of the three best teams in the world, but they play not so many tournaments this year. We know that in Europe now we have an have amazing level and all the European teams, the level is still at the top. “
Aleksandrs Samoilovs, Latvia - “In the second Nicolai started to serve, so it was all the difference. From the good side he made six good serves that made a five-point difference in the second set. In the first set, we got some balls on defense and block and in the third set Lupo changed his attack a little, he was more accurate, and we couldn’t get blocks or defense. He was good in the second and third sets on sideout. Here every team is a top 10 and every team can come back strong. It’s tough when you have the first match of the tournament against a team in the top eight because usually because we’re a high seeded team, we get a team from qualification. The first experience in this tournament you get a team that is usually playing for medals. But I think we prepared good, we started good, but we lost a little rhythm on Nicolai’s serve.”
Janis Smedins, Latvia - “I just know we’ll get a little rest and play another tough match today. If you win the first it’s easier for sure and you are better emotionally. Now we go back, sleep for a little bit and come back for the evening match.”