Young and winning, the new stars at the Finals: the first time for Augsburger, Guerrero and Leal

Young, determined and on a sharp rise. For Leo Augsburger, Fran Guerrero and Javi Leal, making their debut in the men’s draw of the Qatar Airways Premier Padel Finals is a huge milestone in their already intense careers, and the clearest example of how the NextGen is quickly climbing to the top of the padel world. Leo, who at 21 is the youngest player in the seeding at the Palau Sant Jordi next week, is the perfect example: he made his international debut at 16, won the World Championship with Argentina at 20, lifted his first Premier Padel trophy at 21 by winning the Madrid P1 with Martín Di Nenno, and is now one step away from the world top 10. Big achievements followed by a change of partner with someone who knows everything about being at the top — Juan Lebrón — with the goal of becoming even stronger next to him. And for now, one single tournament — the Major in Mexico — was enough for them to jump from fifth to third in the world couples ranking, chasing Coello–Tapia and Chingotto–Galán. “Now we just have to work even harder,” Leo told his partner after losing in the semis. “We’ll have another chance next week in Barcelona!”

Two more stories, tightly connected to each other, make their first appearance on the Finals stage. Fran Guerrero and Javi Leal have known each other since they were kids, back when — not even 10 years old — they won the Spanish championship in their age category. A shared path that the two 22-year-olds walked again this season, from spring to late summer, reaching the semifinals at the Rome Major and then at the Valladolid P2. After that came a new chapter for Leal with Lucas Bergamini — reaching yet another semi, this time at the NewGiza P2 — and one for Guerrero with Momo González, which led to a title at the FIP Platinum in Veracruz. In Barcelona they start on opposite sides of the draw, with the chance of facing each other only in a final that, on paper, would be a surprise. A very ambitious goal for both: for Leal, who dreams of another decisive showdown after helping Spain win the FIP Euro Padel Cup; and for Guerrero, who aims to relive the excitement of the Finals after winning the CUPRA FIP Tour ones in 2024.