Two draws, three leading pairs: the run for the throne of Rome heats up the FIP Race

Five. Two. One. And then there is “three”, but we will come to that shortly. First, it is worth noting that the first eight tournaments of the 2026 Qatar Airways Premier Padel season, in both the men’s and women’s competitions, have been shared by three pairs, who also sit at the top of the FIP Race to the Barcelona Finals. Three is often said to be the perfect number, and it also reflects the balance of power across the men’s and women’s tours: five titles for Fede Chingotto, Ale Galan, Paula Josemaria and Bea Gonzalez; two for Arturo Coello, Agustin Tapia, Delfi Brea and Gemma Triay; and one for Juan Lebron, Leo Augsburger, Ari Sanchez and Andrea Ustero.

 

 

During the presentation press conference for the BNL Italy Major Premier Padel, FIP President Luigi Carraro also referred to the number “three”, highlighting that “at least three pairs are genuinely capable of winning the title”. That “at least”, however, leaves the door open to other possibilities. Chingotto and Galan trail Coello and Tapia in the head-to-head record of a rivalry that has become part of padel history (21-13), but they have won the last four meetings in a row. After lifting the trophy in 2024 and 2025, they are naturally among the favourites for the 2026 edition as well. Galan also enjoys a remarkable record in Italy, having won seven tournaments: three Majors in Rome (2022 with Lebron, 2024 and 2025 with Chingotto), three Milano P1 titles (2022 and 2023 with Lebron, 2025 with Chingotto) and a P2 title in Genoa (2024, with Chingotto). However, Coello and Tapia will arrive eager to make a statement, having won here in 2023 and not lifted a trophy since Cancun. In Brussels, meanwhile, Juan Lebron and Leo Augsburger claimed the title and will be another of the most anticipated pairs at the Foro Italico. “El Lobo” remembers well the emotions of winning in Rome in 2022 alongside Galan and will be hoping to relive them with Leo Augsburger, already a world champion and one of the brightest talents of the NextGen. Third seeds Franco Stupaczuk and Mike Yanguas are still searching for their first Premier Padel title of 2026, but they arrive in Rome with momentum after lifting the trophy at the FIP Platinum Albania in Tirana.

 

WOMEN The question in the women’s draw is whether Paula Josemaria and Bea Gonzalez can continue their dominance. The winners’ photo has featured them at the last five tournaments — Miami, Newgiza, Brussels, Asuncion and Buenos Aires — after the opening three events of the season had gone to Ari Sanchez and Andrea Ustero (Riyadh) and Delfi Brea and Gemma Triay (Gijon and Cancun). Paula has already won the Rome Major (in 2024 with Ari Sanchez), as has Gemma (twice, in 2023 with Marta Ortega and in 2025 with Delfi Brea), while both Delfi and Ari have also lifted the trophy. The only member of the leading trio yet to win the Major in Rome is Bea Gonzalez, although she is currently playing at an exceptionally high level and was forced to miss the 2024 edition at the Foro Italico through injury. The first eight finals of the season have all been contested by these three pairs. Claudia Fernandez and Sofia Araujo have consistently reached the semi-finals but no further. Still, surprises are always possible: Lucia Sainz and Patty Llaguno, finalists in 2024, are proof that anything can happen, even if three is considered the perfect number.