The double guitar of Sanz and Paquito sets up the clash with “Chingo” and Galan

This time there were two guitars, not one. Paquito played his — as famous in padel as Slowhand Eric Clapton’s is in music — and facing him was Jon Sanz, the Barcelona Finals champion, playing just like Paquito: wild, joyful, unstoppable. The two had just turned the world upside down by defeating Stupa and Lebron in a two-hour-and-26-minute masterpiece. Now they’re the new stars of a World Cup that loses two big names but gains two others. Because, let’s face it, Paquito remains one of the game’s biggest idols, with the crowd chanting his classic hit — “Paquito is on fire” to the rhythm of Gala — and celebrating the win as a joyful ritual that shook the Central Court.

The match was a rollercoaster. First set: a strong start from Paquito and Jon, 6-2. Then came the comeback from Lebron and Stupa, who took a crucial break in the third set that seemed decisive. But Sanz and Navarro fought back, broke again, and served at 4-4. And that was the turning point. In that key game, Lebron and Stupa led 0-40 and earned three golden break points. But that’s where everything changed. Sanz and Paquito held firm, saving all three, and even survived three more later. The crucial ninth game ended 5-4 for Jon and Paquito. Said Sanz: “At some moments, I didn’t manage the game very well. We knew that game was very important, because if they went 5-4 up, it would have been hard to recover. It gave us energy, especially to me, while Paco was playing great. In the end, it was a key game, and we managed to win it. Paco won two important points that gave me breathing room. We’re happy, because it was an exciting and tough match against Juan and Franco, two great rivals.”

The comeback clearly affected Lebron and Stupa, who served twice to stay in the match but couldn’t stop the Spanish duo. At 15-40 on Stupa’s serve, Paquito and Sanz closed it on the first match point. Then came the guitars, the screams, the hugs, and the party with the crowd — all singing and waiting for tomorrow’s semifinal against Chingotto and Galan. As Paquito said: “Now sauna, spa, relax and tomorrow, another match.”