King Coello in Plaza Mayor. Sanchez-Josemaria back on top of the FIP ranking

It was a special Sunday for Arturo Coello and Paula Josemaria, but also for Agustin Tapia and Ari Sanchez, champions at Plaza Mayor on the final day of the Oysho Valladolid Premier Padel P2. A victory that has a special flavour for “King Arturo” because it was achieved in the city where he was born, while for Paula and Ari it means a return to number 1 in the FIP ranking, in an exciting rollercoaster ride that is characterising this central phase of the season, with Gemma Triay – who reached the top before this tournament – forced to stop in the semi-finals due to the withdrawal of Delfi Brea.

MEN “This was my dream”. And Arturo Coello made it come true. “When I passed through Plaza Mayor, I hoped to win here”. And the number 1 in the FIP rankings succeeded in a complicated final, alongside Agustin Tapia but against a pair, Juan Lebron and Franco Stupaczuk, who were one point away from winning the first set. However, after cancelling the set point, Coello and Tapia were almost perfect, closing with a score of 7-5 6-4 in one hour and 13 minutes, with only three unforced errors in the second set. For Coello and Tapia, this is their 23rd title on the Premier Padel circuit, the fifth this year after Riyadh, Doha, Brussels and Buenos Aires. “As Arturo often tells me, Valladolid is padel, and we were happy to be able to play another week in such a special place for him”, said Tapia. “The good thing about this pair is that they know how to take the best from their defeats, and that’s what happened after losing in Rome”.

WOMEN Paula Josemaria was not born in Valladolid, but she spent important years in the city of Plaza Mayor. “Paulita”, with Ari Sanchez, also lifted a special trophy, which means a return to number 1 in the FIP rankings for the two Spaniards, who have already won in Riyadh, Brussels and Buenos Aires. The women’s final against Bea Gonzalez and Claudia Fernandez ended 6-4, 7-5 in one hour and 44 minutes, with the decisive break to avoid a third set coming in the eleventh game. “Even though I no longer live in Valladolid, this is a special place for me – said Paula emotionally –. I’m very happy and I thank my family, my team and everyone who cheered me on”. “Thank you to all the fans for filling the Plaza Mayor all week, and congratulations also to Bea and Claudia – said Ari –. Now we have regained the top spot in the rankings, but the season continues and every week is a battle”.

As soon as the P2 in Valladolid is over, the Qatar Airways Premier Padel Tour will move to France for another P2, this time in Bordeaux, before returning to Spain with the P1s in Malaga and Tarragona, preceded by the first two stages of the FIP Euro Padel Cup scheduled in Madrid.