Day1. Maxi Sanchez and Sanyo Gutierrez: talent never fades. Ale Salazar opens Tuesday’s action

With the top seeds not due to make their debuts until Tuesday, two former world number ones stole the spotlight on the opening day of the Oysho Milano Premier Padel P1. Together, Maxi Sanchez and Sanyo Gutierrez have written some memorable chapters in the recent history of padel. Today, they both came through the first round of the Italian P1, on a day that also saw the women’s qualifying draw come to a close. Maxi Sanchez, playing alongside Lucho Capra, ended the run of Flavio Abbate, the highest-ranked Italian-born player in the FIP Ranking. The two Argentinians won 7-6 6-4. On Court 1, meanwhile, Sanyo and the other Maxi Sanchez, Maxi Sanchez Blasco, eliminated Nacho Vilariño and Coquito Zamora in three sets, 6-3 4-6 6-2. The two Italian wild cards also failed to progress, with Marco Cassetta and Fabian Oviedo beaten by Javi Barahona and Nacho Piotto, while Giulio Graziotti and Simone Iacovino lost to David Gala and Italian-Argentinian Enzo Jensen.

 

Arturo Coello and Agustin Tapia, winners in Paris, Rotterdam and Düsseldorf before arriving in Italy, will begin their campaign on Wednesday against Arnau Ayats and Emilio Chamero. Defending champions Fede Chingotto and Ale Galan will face Portuguese brothers Nuno Deus and Miguel Deus. Tuesday will see the men’s seeds ranked 5 to 8 take to the court, alongside another legend, Alejandra Salazar, who will open the day’s schedule at 9.30 CEST with Aranzazu Osoro, facing Alix Collombon and Ksenia Sharifova. On the Centre Court, the all-Italian clash between Giulia Dal Pozzo (with Nuria Rodriguez) and Giorgia Marchetti (with Lara Arruabarrena) also stands out.