The proof that he is already a top player in the world, Javier Palazón delivered last month in Sluiskil. Daniel Sanchez became the world champion there, the young Palazón, former junior world champion, was third. This afternoon the roles were reversed. Javier Palazón defeated his master: 3-2. The world champion may return to Spain with not such a good feeling.
The surprise was less significant than it seemed. Sánchez, he said in Sluiskil, is not in every tournament in a great shape, like players as Dick Jaspers and Frederic Caudron usually are.
In the World Cup in Hurghada, Sánchez was far from the top of his level. Javier Palazón, the wonderful talent from Madrid, actually was the player who dominated the whole match. He won the first, the third and the fifth set, Sanchez could only come back between two lost sets and gave the match the finish he deserved.
Two players with a rich history as junior world champions meet each other so tonight in the quarterfinals. Javier Palazón against Filippos Kasidokostas certainly will be a special match.