Day3. Leygue, from heartbreak to glory: first French man into a Major round of 16. Kurz also makes history

Just over a year ago, at a Major – the one in Rome – there were tears of pain after a devastating Achilles tendon injury. A year later, again at a Major but this time in Paris in front of his home crowd, those tears have turned into tears of joy. No French player had ever reached the round of 16 at one of the four most important Premier Padel tournaments in the world: Thomas Leygue has now done it, coming through qualifying alongside Jesus Moya. Their 6-2 4-6 7-5 victory over Juanlu Esbri and Sanyo Gutierrez has earned them another dream day on Philippe-Chatrier, against fourth seeds Franco Stupaczuk and Jon Sanz. Whatever happens, it will be a success for Leygue, who was forced to spend several months on the sidelines and has now made up for lost time. The other major surprise of the day, on a Wednesday that also saw Arturo Coello and Agustin Tapia make a winning debut against Tino Libaak and Gonza Alfonso (6-2 7-5), and Fede Chingotto and Ale Galan defeat Arnau Ayats and Emilio Chamero (6-2 6-2), was the victory of Javi Martinez and Luis Hernandez, who defeated ninth seeds Javi Garrido and Lucas Bergamini. Following the defeat, the two players announced that the P2 in Rotterdam will be their final tournament together.

 

WOMEN Ahead of the debuts of the top four seeds, with Bea Gonzalez and Paula Josemaria opening the programme on Philippe-Chatrier at 12 against Marta Barrera and Jana Montes, it was also a historic day for Germany. Victoria Kurz, who entered the draw as a lucky loser alongside Anna Ortiz following the withdrawal of Tamara Icardo and Claudia Jensen, became the first German player to reach the round of 16 in a Premier Padel main draw. Tomorrow, Kurz/Ortiz will face Carolina Orsi and Patty Llaguno. The most eagerly awaited women’s match is undoubtedly the clash between Delfi Brea and Gemma Triay and Nuria Rodriguez and Giulia Dal Pozzo, which will be played on Chatrier not before 20:00.