The endless rivalry of the Duellists: from Doha to Barcelona in search of the first time

It’s been a long-running battle that started this year at the Doha Major, spanned eleven countries, thirteen tournaments, and just as many finals, before reaching the season’s last event, where the best face off. Arturo Coello and Agustín Tapia, Ale Galán and Fede Chingotto: the Duellists who have dominated the 2025 world of padel are also the most anticipated pairs at the Qatar Airways Premier Padel Finals, chasing a title that — by a strange twist of fate — neither has won yet.

Looking back at 2025, Coello and Tapia arrive in Barcelona as clear favorites: 12 titles versus 8, the top spot in the FIP rankings secured, and a head-to-head record of 9-4 in their favor (19-9 overall). But it’s also been the year Galán and Chingotto have solidified their identity, found new strategies, and reached new heights, with three consecutive titles in Milan, NewGiza, and the FIP World Cup Pairs in Kuwait, where they were crowned world champions. As Galán himself said after the Major final in Acapulco, won by the world number 1s: “Beyond the numbers, I feel we’ve grown and improved a lot, and that’s the true essence of sport.”

On top of facing a phenomenal pair of opponents, Coello and Tapia have another challenge — this time mental — to overcome. Last year, they reached the final at Palau Sant Jordi with an incredible streak of 47 consecutive wins, one of the longest in padel history, before falling to Sanz/Nieto in their last match together. A memory that’s still vivid for Tapia, even a year later: “It was a really tough moment for us. We were happy for our opponents, but that loss hurt a lot.” It’s the kind of knot that can only be untied by returning to the court to close the circle, giving these Finals an extra meaning.

For Chingotto and Galán, it’s a fresh start after a surprise quarterfinal exit, when they fell to Edu Alonso and Momo González at the end of a grueling season chasing their rivals. This time, their first match of the edition is against the latter, paired with debutant Fran Guerrero, while in the top half of the draw, Coello and Tapia await Bergamini and Leal, also making his Finals debut.

Overall, just two matches separate the four Duellists from another potential face-off. A matchup that can sometimes seem predictable, but usually comes after battles against increasingly tough opponents: “The gap with the others isn’t that big,” said Chingotto. “Since we face each other so often, it’s normal we end up in the final, but every match is a final, and every game is tough.” That’s exactly why the endless rivalry keeps exciting fans: once again, the path toward a new chapter — and the Finals title that both pairs are chasing — promises plenty of action.