Day5 women’s, Spain and Portugal win again: the road to gold goes through the semi-finals

The look of happiness after converting match point is the best representation of the emotion felt by Portuguese duo Sofia Araujo-Ana Catarina Nogueira (1) after reaching the semi-finals at the Mediterranean Games currently taking place in Taranto. On Day 5 of the competition, the two players defeated the Italian pair of Carlotta Casali-Giulia Dal Pozzo (6-3 6-3) on Centre Court. Araujo, No. 8 in the FIP Ranking, showed all her experience in this match. In her career, she has already secured prestigious victories on the Premier Padel circuit: the Genoa P2 (2024) and the Bordeaux P2 (2025). Last June, she was also a finalist at the Malaga P1. The Portuguese player will also be looking to win the gold medal in Taranto at the debut edition of padel at the Mediterranean Games. To do so, however, she will have to overcome the other pair to secure their place in the semi-finals today at the Salinella Mediterranean Park: Jimena Velasco and Nuria Rodriguez (3). The Spanish duo recorded a convincing victory over the French pair of Steffi Merah-Charlotte Soubrie, winning 6-1 6-1. Rodriguez is in excellent form: alongside her partner Dal Pozzo, she is enjoying a dream season, having reached the semi-finals of the Rome Major and the Valladolid P2.

 

 

THURSDAY SCHEDULE The women’s semi-final line-up is now complete. On Thursday 27 August on Centre Court, not before 17:00 CEST, Italians Giorgia Marchetti-Carolina Orsi (4), gold medallists at the 2023 European Games in Krakow, will face Spaniards Patty Llaguno-Lucia Sainz (2), both former world No. 1s, in a match expected to provide a high-level contest. In the quarter-finals, the former defeated the French duo of Louise Bahurel-Lucile Pothier, while the latter overcame the challenge of Dora Chamli-Nour Allani (Tunisia). This will be followed, again on Centre Court, by the other semi-final: Araujo-Nogueira against Rodriguez-Velasco. The winners of these two matches will face each other in the women’s final on Friday 28 August, when all the other medals will also be awarded.