📸 🎥 Paralympics' official YT
The earliest Paralympics medal matches came from the quad wheelchair doubles, where first seeds Sam Schroder/Niels Vink, who defeated eventual vronze medallist Donald Ramphadi/Lucas Sithole 6-1, 6-1 in the semifinals, and second seeds Andy Lapthorne/Gregory Slade, who also stunned Leandro Pena/Ymanitu Silva 6-1, 7-5 in the previous round. While this could have been a tricky match at their best, the point construction favored the former pair more as they stood out at the end of the match.
Sam/Niels had a slightly nervy start due to a forehand error, but Sam compensated it with a winner before taking the opening game to 1-0. Niels' slice then secured their one-point lead, followed by a working smash to secure their other lead before breaking early to 2-0, then held to 3-0 thanks to Sam's forehand winner to close the rally.
Interestingly, in the next game, Sam/Niels smoothly constructed their third break point before a working backhand from Niels converted it to 4-0. However, Andy/Greg sliced their way to a 2-point lead before breaking back to 4-1 only to be broken back again to 5-1 thanks to the Dutch pair's clean streak. As a result, Sam/Niels earned the opportunity to serve for the first-set breadstick, which they did (6-1) to secure the first set.