Day 6 men’s, final set for Spain-Italy: Gala-Diestro face Abbate-Montiel

Four players, two national teams and one objective: to win the gold medal. Italy and Spain will contest the men’s final of the XX Mediterranean Games. On semi-final evening at the Parco del Mediterraneo Salinella in Taranto – FIP President Luigi Carraro was in the officials’ stand to follow these semi-finals – the pairing of David Gala-Jose Antonio Diestro lit up Centre Court, in front of a large crowd, with a 7-5 7-5 victory over Portuguese brothers Nuno and Miguel Deus. The difference in this match came down to the details. There was a fine balance throughout: both the first and second sets reached 5-5, but on both occasions the Spaniards managed to produce two decisive breaks to secure their place in the final. Gala and Diestro have already shown in their careers that they know how to win wearing Spain’s colours: last year, they triumphed at the FIP Euro Padel Cup 2025.

 

In the other men’s semi-final, Azzurri Flavio Abbate-Alvaro Montiel defeated their compatriots Marco Cassetta-Simone Iacovino (7-6 6-1) in front of a large crowd. The latter made the better start in the all-Italian derby, immediately securing a break and taking a 4-1 lead. Abbate and Montiel then managed to recover the deficit and win the first set 7-2 in the tie-break. The second set was a different story, with Abbate and Montiel dominating 6-1 to book their place in the final. There was barely time to celebrate the victory before the finalists were already looking ahead to the challenge against Gala-Diestro. “We will give everything we have to beat Spain!” said Montiel. The Cassetta-Iacovino pairing will play the men’s bronze medal match against the Deus brothers.

 

‘SUPER FRIDAY’ SCHEDULE Padel is ready for the grand finale at the Mediterranean Games, with a final day featuring a series of matches and medals at stake. The action will begin on the morning of 28 August with the three bronze medal matches in the men’s, women’s and mixed draws. In the afternoon, not before 17:00 CEST, Centre Court will host the mixed gold medal match between Marco Cassetta-Giulia Dal Pozzo and siblings Sofia and Pedro Araujo. The women’s final will follow, with Lucia Sainz-Patty Llaguno facing Jimena Velasco-Nuria Rodriguez. To close the day, not before 19:00 CEST, David Gala-Jose Antonio Diestro will face Flavio Abbate-Alvaro Montiel for the men’s gold medal.