Day1. Rome celebrates Abbate and Montiel: Flavio and Alvaro earn a meeting with Coello and Tapia

The opening day of the BNL Italy Major Premier Padel brought the first packed crowd on the Nicola Pietrangeli Court and the first major celebration for the home fans. After coming back from a set down, Flavio Abbate and Alvaro Montiel defeated Emilio Sanchez and Alberto Garcia 3-6 6-4 7-5. It was a hugely significant victory for the two Italians, as it secured them a second-round match against Arturo Coello and Agustin Tapia, who are set to make their debut on Tuesday along with all the stars of world padel. The match is scheduled as the second one of the afternoon session, which will begin not before 16:00.

 

In the morning session, opened by another Italian, Carolina Orsi, partnering Patty Llaguno, two-time champions Fede Chingotto and Ale Galan will also take to the court. They face Tino Libaak and Alex Chozas in one of the standout matches of the day, featuring three Argentine world champions. Another world champion will follow immediately afterwards: Leo Augsburger, who, alongside Juan Lebron, will take on qualifiers Manu Aragon and Albert Roglan. In the evening session, Franco Stupaczuk and Mike Yanguas (3) will face Manuel Castaño and Xisco Gil, while Martin Di Nenno and Paquito Navarro make their return to the Foro Italico against Alonso Rodriguez and Juani De Pascual. Among the most notable results of the opening day was also the comeback victory of David Gala and Enzo Jensen, who, after surprisingly reaching the final of the FIP Platinum Albania, defeated Juani Rubini and Maxi Sanchez 2-6 6-3 6-4.

 

WOMEN In the women’s draw, while awaiting the debut of the top four seeds in Thursday’s round of 16, all the other pairs will be in action on Tuesday. Among them are Ale Salazar and Ale Alonso (7), who will feature in the opening match on Court 6 against Nuria Rodriguez and Italy’s Giulia Dal Pozzo, followed by Tamara Icardo and Claudia Jensen (5) against Sofia Saiz and Marta Talavan. Marina Guinart and Veronica Virseda, seeded eighth and winners in Tirana last Saturday, will begin their campaign on Court 4 against Noa Canovas and Laia Rodriguez.