“With the current equipment it is very difficult to subtract a good serve”

The first game of the quarter-finals against Elordi choked him, but he managed to react in time and tie him up. Tomorrow (5.15 pm) at the Bergara fronton, Jokin Altuna, the Cuatro y Medio champion, will face another young contender like Peio Etxeberria who has been hitting hard. The one from Amezketa maintains that it is increasingly difficult to win at this distance. “Every year there are new people, they are very well prepared and they all play a lot, so against the Navarrese they will also have to suffer,” he said.

The material they use today increases the uncertainty. Since he made his debut seven years ago, the Gipuzkoan has found that he has changed “a lot.” Also the style of play. «I watch those first matches and they played more by boat. Today everyone is much more aggressive and it is not easy, “he said. And the serve is becoming more and more one of the main weapons to get matches on track. «It is very difficult to subtract a good serve well. It is almost impossible to remove the ball from square two and anyone can hit you, “he stressed. That is why it is necessary to be focused throughout the meeting and “be lucky.” However, Altuna III prefers to face opponents who are playing well “because that way you improve. This is the way”. Against Zenotz he will try to focus on his weapons. “I need to speed up the rally because the other day I could not put the rhythm,” he admitted.

Different balls

For Peio Etxeberria all the matches in the league have their “motivation” regardless of who they are, but “trying to beat the champion, more”. The Navarrese has not changed in any way his preparation for a duel of this caliber, which if he wins and the result of the other match favors him could lead him to the semifinals for the first time. “I have trained conscientiously to reach the top, but I know that I have to do things very well if I want to have options,” he said.

The Navarrese described most of the material in the basket as “calm”, and he opted for a couple of more lively balls, especially one. Those of the Gipuzkoan are “much rougher, but there are no excuses,” he said.

At the Beotibar in Tolosa, Jaka and Laso met to choose the leathers for the clash on Monday, which for both will be practically a final. There were no problems. They will arrive at the clash knowing the result of the meeting between Ezkurdia and Urrutikoetxea, so whoever loses may be left with no options for the third and last day.