Day3. Here are the semifinalists: Gala-Jensen, Arroyo-Arce and Rodriguez-Dal Pozzo aim to continue their surprise run

Another day of top-level padel took place in Skënderbeg Square, with the Tirana crowd enjoying the show of the FIP Platinum Albania until midnight. The tournament has now reached the semi-finals, scheduled for tomorrow from 15:00 CEST, with four matches on centre court. Between confirmations and surprises, the event is preparing for its decisive final two days.

 

MEN Franco Stupaczuk and Mike Yanguas, the two most anticipated players in the men’s draw, are still in contention for the title. The Argentine and the Spaniard, in the final match of the day, defeated Momo Gonzalez and Lucas Campagnolo 2-6 6-3 6-3 and tomorrow, not before 21:00, they will face Maxi Arce and Alex Arroyo. Arce and Arroyo prevailed in a marathon lasting almost two and a half hours, winning 7-5 4-6 7-6 against Alex Chozas and Tino Libaak after a third-set tie-break.

 

In the bottom half of the draw, David Gala and Enzo Jensen’s outstanding week continues. The comeback specialists, after defeating Coki Nieto and Jon Sanz in three sets in the round of 16, repeated the feat in the quarter-finals against Alex Ruiz and Juanlu Esbri (4-6 6-3 6-4). Standing between the two 2006-born players and a place in the final will be the number 4 seeds Martin Di Nenno and Jairo Bautista, who ended the tournament of Edu Alonso and Aimar Goñi in two closely contested sets (7-6 7-5).

 

WOMEN Three of the top four seeded pairs will feature in the women’s semi-finals. The surprise came in the last quarter-final, where Italy’s Giulia Dal Pozzo achieved the biggest result of her career alongside Nuria Rodriguez, defeating the number 3 seeds Carmen Goenaga and Bea Caldera in three sets (6-4 2-6 6-1). Dal Pozzo and Rodriguez will now face Marina Guinart and Veronica Virseda (2), who advanced thanks to a 6-4 7-5 victory over Jessica Castelló and Lorena Rufo.

 

The top half of the draw followed expectations, with Ale Salazar and Ale Alonso (1) defeating Marta Caparros and Julieta Bidahorria 6-3 6-4. They will now meet Aranzazu Osoro and Victoria Iglesias (4), who overcame Carolina Orsi and Patty Llaguno by the same scoreline, 6-1 6-4.