Stupa and Di Nenno win the battle of former partners to become the first men’s semifinalists at the Qatar Airways Premier Padel Finals

The first men’s match of the Qatar Airways Premier Padel Finals 2025 delivered everything it promised. Franco Stupaczuk and Martín Di Nenno faced Leo Augsburger and Juan Lebrón in what was billed as one of the standout clashes of the opening day at Palau Sant Jordi. A duel loaded with narrative and emotion — not only because of the tight matchup between the No. 3 and No. 5 seeds, but also due to the history shared by the four players.

Earlier this season, Stupa and Lebrón competed together, lifting the Cancún P2 title and reaching four additional finals. Di Nenno and Augsburger, meanwhile, joined forces later in the year and reached the summit by winning the Madrid P1. This first Finals showdown between two “new” pairings carried extra weight.

From the outset, the Superpibes found the better rhythm on a slow-playing court. Their trademark consistency and strategic discipline earned them an early break, and soon a second, allowing them to close the opening set with a commanding 6-2.

Despite Augsburger’s offensive fireworks — he hit 10 winners in the first set, the most of the four players — the Argentine duo’s efficiency made the difference. They converted two of their three break opportunities, while Lebrón and Augsburger were unable to capitalise on any of the four chances they generated.

The momentum appeared to shift at the start of the second set. Lebrón and Augsburger broke immediately and headed to the first bench break up 2-1 with serve. But Stupa and Di Nenno quickly reacted, leveling the score and restoring order with the poise that has defined their reunion this season.

What followed was a superb display of athleticism and shotmaking: recoveries from outside the court, explosive smashes from all four players, and high-pressure rallies that thrilled the Barcelona crowd. At 4-5, the Superpibes earned two match points at 15-40, and — in keeping with the flow of the match — they wasted no time converting to secure their place among the top four teams of the tournament.

Augsburger finished as the clear winner tally leader with 19 winners, ahead of Stupa’s 11. Yet, the defining statistic was unforced errors: only 10 from Stupa and Di Nenno compared to 21 from their opponents. That consistency proved decisive.

The Argentine duo reflected on this solidity in the post-match press conference.

Stupa highlighted Di Nenno’s importance: “Martín encouraged me the whole time and gives me the stability I need. He passes on his enthusiasm and that makes me throw myself onto the court headfirst.”

Di Nenno added: “We wanted to shake off the bad taste from Mexico and I think we did that. We played at the Superpibes level and we won.”

Stupa also admitted that his preparation had been anything but ideal: “Yesterday in training I felt horrible, but Martín supported me and told me not to worry, that today I would play well. And that’s exactly what happened.”

The Superpibes will now look to bring this same level into Saturday’s semifinal as they chase yet another title to add to their storied partnership.