Day3. A Maxi feat: Arce and Pablo Lijó in the quarter-finals. Delfi and Gemma, a perfect match

Maxi in name and in deed. Arce and Pablo Lijó are the surprise of the third day of the Premier Padel Comunidad de Madrid P1: the Argentine and the Spanish eliminated the number 5 seeds Paquito Navarro and Lucas Bergamini with a double 6-4, qualifying for the quarter-finals scheduled for Friday from 9 a.m. CET. Arce, ranked 167th in the FIP ranking, had already reached the quarter-finals in the P1 in Malaga, paired with Franco Stupaczuk, who had chosen him due to Juan Lebron’s injury. Tomorrow, Arce and Lijó face their toughest challenge yet: the number 1 seeds Arturo Coello and Agustin Tapia, who, after beating Alex and Victor Ruiz 7-6 6-4, are aiming to win another title, their fifth in a row. Fran Guerrero and Javi Leal pulled off the other upset of the day against Juan Tello and Pablo Cardona (4-6 7-6 6-4): they will face Coki Nieto and Mike Yanguas (4) in the quarter-finals. Lebron/Stupaczuk (3)-Gonzalez/Sanz (6) and Di Nenno/Augsburger (7)-Chingotto/Galan (2) are the other two quarter-finals, with Galan scoring a point against Diestro/Esbri that has been described as “alien” on all social media.

WOMEN A perfect start in the women’s draw for the new number 1 seeds Delfi Brea and Gemma Triay, with a double 6-0 victory over Barrera/Caparros; Paula Josemaria and Ari Sanchez also did well, beating Goenaga/Caldera 6-4 6-2. Carolina Orsi and Martina Fassio continue their great tournament: 7-5 6-2 against Castelló/Rufo, while Jimena Velasco and Raquel Eugenio in the bottom half stopped the run of Marta Ortega and Tamara Icardo (7-5 6-4). On Friday, eight matches will be played on centre court: it will be a day not to be missed.