Day5. The world’s top eight pairs all win: the most eagerly awaited semi-finals set for Saturday at the Allianz Cloud. Milan bids farewell to Salazar

As in Düsseldorf a week ago, the world’s eight best pairs have reached the semi-finals in Milan: seeds 1 to 4 in both the men’s and women’s draws. However, while the women’s semi-finals at the Allianz Cloud, starting at 14:00 CEST, will be the same as a week ago (Delfi Brea and Gemma Triay against Ari Sanchez and Andrea Ustero, followed by Bea Gonzalez and Paula Josemaria against Claudia Fernandez and Martina Calvo), the men’s semi-finals will be reversed.

 

MEN The first semi-final, the second match of the daytime session, will feature the two pairs who contested the last two finals — including Rotterdam before Düsseldorf. On one side are Arturo Coello and Agustin Tapia, on the other Franco Stupaczuk and Jon Sanz. Coello and Tapia set an irresistible pace, beating Fran Guerrero and Javi Leal 6-2 6-2 in 59 minutes, while Stupa and Sanz also won in straight sets, defeating Momo Gonzalez and Lucas Campagnolo 6-3 6-4. In the evening, Ale Galan and Juan Lebron, champions at the Allianz Cloud in 2022 and 2023, both secured victories, although this time they are on opposite sides of the draw. Both the ‘Chingalan’ pair and Lebron and Augsburger needed a tie-break: the defending champions won the second set 6-3 7-6 versus Gonza Alfonso and Tino Libaak, while the number 3 seeds prevailed in the first set 7-6 6-3 versus Javi Garrido and Juani De Pascual.

 

 

WOMEN While the Düsseldorf final featured the number 3 and 4 pairs, on Saturday Brea/Triay and Josemaria/Gonzalez will look to reclaim their places in the final. Their hopes have been challenged in this part of the season by Ustero/Sanchez, winners in Paris and Rotterdam, and Fernandez/Calvo, champions in Germany and dominant in their 6-1 6-2 victory over Marta Ortega and Sofia Araujo, conceding just three games. Delfi and Gemma also won in straight sets, beating Jimena Velasco and Raquel Eugenio 6-2 7-6, as did Ari and Andrea, who defeated Ale Salazar and Aranzazu Osoro 6-4 6-3 in a match followed by an emotional farewell from the Milan crowd to a padel legend. Finally, the match between Josemaria and Gonzalez and Claudia Jensen and Tamara Icardo lasted just one set before the latter retired. Icardo had returned to competition in Milan after several weeks out with physical problems.