Euro Final 8, Women’s Day1: Spain and Italy take off. Portugal and the Netherlands put on a show!

The strength of a star-studded team that keeps finding new energy to stay on top. On Day1 of the Final 8 at the FIP Euro Padel Cup, the closing match between Spain and Belgium was the perfect example of that ability to renew and reinvent itself: on one side, Lucía Sainz, a veteran of La Roja and former world number one; on the other, 17-year-old Martina Calvo, already among the elite of world padel and seen as a future number one. The “odd couple” didn’t give their opponents a chance — a double 6-0 against Noemi Sermant and Michelle Van Mol — sealing a tie completely dominated by the defending champions, who had already won with Andrea Ustero and Ale Alonso (6-3 6-0 over Pysson/Boeykens) and with Lorena Rufo and Jessica Castelló (6-2 6-2 against Wyckaert/Mestach).

In Group A, the same as Spain, Portugal also claimed its first victory, 2-1 over the Netherlands. The red-and-greens had to fight hard against one of the most promising teams in the tournament: after Ana Nogueira and Margarida Fernandes won over Groenveld/Betz (6-1 6-4), Sofia Araújo and Patricia Ribeiro had some tense moments but eventually closed it out against Hemmes/Weterings (6-4 7-5). The Dutch stayed focused, though, and gave a great performance in the third match, with Rosalie Van Der Hoek and Puck Bernard beating Clarinha Santos and Alexandra Silva 2-1 (6-4 6-7 7-2).

Just like Spain, Italy — the top seed in Group B — started strong against Germany. Giulia Dal Pozzo and Giorgia Marchetti opened with a clean 6-1 6-1 win over Scholten/Plümer, followed by Carolina Orsi and Emily Stellato, who were even more dominant with a double 6-0 over Hering/Hoefer. The German pair Ermann/Blaschke put up a bit more resistance against Chiara Pappacena and Carlotta Casali, but the Italians still won 6-3 6-1. In the same group, France also picked up their first victory: two key players, Carla Touly and Léa Godallier, stood out with a 6-1 6-1 win over Tordoff/Quirk; Alix Collombon and Jessica Ginier also started well (6-1 6-2 against Norton/Gibson). Lisa Phillips and Catherine Rose managed to take a set from Lucile Pothier and Louise Bahurel, but the French duo came back strong to win 3-6 6-4 6-0.