Mediterranean Games 2026: Morocco Wins Bronze in Mixed Doubles Tennis

Monday 31 August 2026 - 07:13

Younès Alami Laroussi and Diaa El Jardi have secured a new medal for Morocco at the Mediterranean Games in Taranto. The Moroccan duo won the third place match in mixed doubles tennis against Portugal on Sunday, after a particularly hard-fought duel.

Moroccan tennis has made its mark on the podium of the Mediterranean Games 2026. Competing in mixed doubles, Younès Alami Laroussi and Diaa El Jardi clinched the bronze medal after overcoming the Portuguese team of Francisco Rocha and Madalena Matias.

The match, held on Sunday in Taranto, lived up to expectations. After losing the first set in a tiebreak, the Moroccans managed to turn the tide and ultimately won in three sets.

A Comeback After Losing the First Set

The Moroccan duo was pushed to their limits right from the start of the match. Portugal won the first set in a tiebreak, 7-6 (4).

However, Alami Laroussi and El Jardi did not let the match slip away. More solid in the subsequent exchanges, they won the second set 7-5, forcing their opponents to play a final super tiebreak.

The Moroccans then displayed mastery to conclude the match with a score of 6-7 (4), 7-5, 10-7 and secured third place.

A Journey to the Semi-Finals

Before this bronze medal, the Moroccan pair had shown a strong enough performance to reach the last four of the event.

In the semi-finals, the Moroccan representatives engaged in another tight battle against the Spaniards Lucía Cortez Llorca and Alejo Sánchez Quílez. The Spanish duo ultimately won the match in three sets, 6-3, 5-7, 10-8.

This defeat denied Alami Laroussi and El Jardi a place in the final, but their success in the bronze match allows them to leave the competition with a medal.

Moroccan Tennis on the Podium

This third place thus rewards the journey of the two Moroccan players in a competition bringing together several delegations from the Mediterranean basin.

For Alami Laroussi and El Jardi, this medal also represents a notable achievement on the international stage. Their ability to bounce back after losing the first set in the bronze match was crucial in securing this distinction in Taranto.