Day4. Libaak-Alfonso in FIP World Cup form; Sintes-Zamora, the dream continues

Tino Libaak and Gonza Alfonso are in World Cup form. The FIP World Cup, which they won two years ago thanks to Libaak’s victory in the decisive match, is now just around the corner, and the two Argentinians — both selected for the national team — are building up to it in the best possible way. As they did in Madrid, Tino and Gonza defeated Juan Lebron and Leo Augsburger 4-6 7-5 6-1. Augsburger was Libaak’s partner in the decisive match for the 2024 title against Mike Yanguas and Paquito Navarro. In the quarter-finals of the Kuwait Major, the 12th seeds will face Paquito Navarro, who, alongside Martin Di Nenno, beat Pol Hernandez and Manuel Castaño 6-3 6-0. The other quarter-final in the top half of the draw will see Arturo Coello and Agustin Tapia — 6-2 6-1 winners over Enrique Goenaga and Guille Collado in 50 minutes — take on the 10th seeds, Jairo Bautista and Lucas Bergamini. After winning the FIP Gold in Melilla, the pair also eliminated Coki Nieto and Mike Yanguas, winning 1-6 6-4 6-2. In the bottom half, Franco Stupaczuk and Jon Sanz continue their run: their 6-2 7-5 victory over Inigo Jofre and Juanlu Esbri sets up a quarter-final in which they will be favourites against Edu Alonso and Aimar Goñi, who beat seventh seeds Fran Guerrero and Javi Leal 6-4 6-4. In the quarter of the draw left without Fede Chingotto and Ale Galan, Maxi Arce and Juan Tello — 6-3 3-6 6-1 winners over Denis Perino and Facundo Dominguez — will face Marc Sintes and Coquito Zamora. Having already caused an upset by eliminating Momo Gonzalez and Lucas Campagnolo, Sintes and Zamora continued their remarkable run with a 6-3 7-5 victory over Javi Garcia and Alex Ruiz.

 

WOMEN In the women’s draw, the top four seeds all made winning starts, with every pair securing victory in straight sets: Delfi Brea and Gemma Triay (6-0 6-1 against Sofia Saiz and Marta Talavan), Paula Josemaria and Bea Gonzalez (6-1 6-0 against Jana Montes and Marta Barrera), Ari Sanchez and Andrea Ustero (6-2 6-1 against Martina Fassio and Veronica Virseda), and Claudia Fernandez and Martina Calvo (6-4 7-6 against Jimena Velasco and Raquel Eugenio). Two pairs ranked outside the top eight of the entry list have reached the quarter-finals. After reaching the semi-finals at the Rome Major, Nuria Rodriguez and Giulia Dal Pozzo progressed with a 6-7 6-3 6-2 victory over seventh seeds Marina Guinart and Ale Alonso, earning valuable points in the FIP Race for the Finals in Barcelona. Meanwhile, 13th seeds Lorena Rufo and Victoria Iglesias ended the run of Julieta Bidahorria and Virginia Riera. Thursday is quarter-final day, with play starting at 14:00 local time (12:00 CET): five matches on Centre Court and three on Court 1 will determine the semi-finalists of the season’s third Major.