Day3. Libaak-Alfonso, Bautista-Bergamini, Abbate-Dal Bianco, Garrido-De Pascual: so many pairs chasing a dream

With the top four players in the world absent from the Premier Padel Dubai P1, there are plenty of pairs beyond the usual favourites hoping to enjoy a dream weekend. They include not only number 2 seeds Juan Lebron and Leo Augsburger, the only pair apart from Arturo Coello and Agustin Tapia (who are nevertheless in Dubai, where today they appeared alongside other top players and former football legend Andres Iniesta at the Burj Khalifa) and Fede Chingotto and Ale Galan to have won a Premier Padel title in 2026 (in Brussels). Nor are Franco Stupaczuk and Jon Sanz (3) the only contenders: this evening they beat Maxi Sanchez Blasco and Sanyo Gutierrez 6-3 6-4 in the round of 16 and will be hoping to reach the final from the top half of the draw. Tino Libaak and Gonza Alfonso (10) are dreaming too, after their 6-2 6-3 win over lucky losers Marcos Gonzalez and Diego Garcia. So are Jairo Bautista and Lucas Bergamini, who came from a set down to beat Fran Guerrero and Javi Leal 1-6 7-5 6-3 and will now face the Argentinians. Flavio Abbate and Franco Dal Bianco are also in the hunt: after their 7-6 6-3 victory over Manu Aragon and Albert Roglan, they will take on Momo Gonzalez and Lucas Campagnolo (7) in the quarter-finals. And Javi Garrido and Juani De Pascual (14) are dreaming too. They reached the quarter-finals in Milan just a month ago and pulled off a major upset by eliminating two world champions, Coki Nieto and Mike Yanguas, 6-7 6-3 7-6. They will face Stupaczuk and Sanz, with a place in the semi-finals at stake in a tournament where anything seems possible.

 

 

WOMEN Uncertainty reigns in the women’s draw too, despite six of the eight seeded pairs making it through to the quarter-finals. The only surprise was the victory (4-6 6-4 6-3) of Jimena Velasco and Raquel Eugenio over number 5 seeds Marta Ortega and Sofia Araujo. Lorena Rufo and Victoria Iglesias, who had eliminated Ale Salazar and Aranzazu Osoro in the previous round, also continued their run with a 6-4 4-6 6-2 win over Amanda Lopez and Camila Fassio. Delfi Brea and Gemma Triay, who beat Saiz/Talavan 6-3 6-1 today, will open the programme on Centre Court at 12:00 local time (10:00 CET) against Claudia Jensen and Tamara Icardo, who defeated Marta Arellano and Victoria Kurz 6-4 6-2. Next up will be Marina Guinart and Ale Alonso, who beat Noa Canovas and Marina Lobo 6-4 6-2, against Paula Josemaria and Bea Gonzalez, who defeated Martina Fassio and Veronica Virseda 6-4 6-1. They will be followed by Ari Sanchez and Andrea Ustero, who beat Leti Manquillo and Lucia Sainz 6-0 6-4, taking on Velasco/Eugenio. On Court 1, meanwhile, Rufo and Iglesias will face Claudia Fernandez and Martina Calvo, who defeated Jessica Castelló and Laia Rodriguez 7-6 6-4.