Delfi-Gemma and Chingalan, the sweet taste of revenge

From Riyadh to Gijon the champions change, but the level of play remains outstanding. In the first P2 of 2026, Delfi Brea and Gemma Triay celebrate in the women’s draw, while Fede Chingotto and Ale Galan triumph in the men’s. Both pairs had lost the final in the opening tournament of the season, respectively against Ari Sanchez and Andrea Ustero and against Arturo Coello and Agustin Tapia. At a packed Palacio de Deportes de la Guía Presidente Adolfo Suárez, it was a bittersweet birthday for Arturo Coello, who was celebrating his 24th birthday today and took to the court after a women’s final lasting more than three hours.

 

 

WOMEN An epic final saw Delfi Brea and Gemma Triay return to the title five months after their last trophy in Rotterdam, thanks to a 6-4 6-7 6-3 victory over Andrea Ustero and Ari Sanchez. The three-hour and three-minute marathon avenged their defeat in Riyadh and delivered the 10th title for Delfi Brea and Gemma Triay as a pair, one year after their first, also won in Gijon. After losing the opening set, Andrea Ustero and Ari Sanchez led 5-2 in the second, but the comeback by Delfi Brea and Gemma Triay took the match to a tie-break. The final was decided in the third set by a break in the eighth game, with the number 3 seeds closing the match with more smashes (38-29) and more winners (59-57), but also with more unforced errors (61-41). “A very tough match, which is why I congratulate Andrea and Ari for the level they have reached”, said Gemma Triay. “Thanks to Seba (Nerone, new coach, ed.), in the key moments we managed to make an extra effort. After five lost finals we finally managed to win”. “It has been a difficult week for me, so I must thank the whole team”, added Delfi Brea, who after the victory ran to embrace her mother in the stands. “Andrea and Ari had a great start, but today we will enjoy this moment”.

 

MEN While the women’s final was decided in three sets, two were enough (7-5 7-6) for Fede Chingotto and Ale Galan to win the men’s final, ending a run of four consecutive victories by Arturo Coello and Agustin Tapia (21-10 in the head-to-head record). In the first set, the decisive moment was a break at 6-5; in the second, the number 1 seeds were the first to move ahead (4-2) but immediately conceded the break back at 4-3. In the tie-break, however, ‘Chingalan’ prevailed 7-3. “Thank you Gijon for showing us so much support throughout the week”, said Fede Chingotto. “I am happy because the team had come from a difficult moment after the final lost in Riyadh. For that reason, everyone gave a little more. This ‘clasico’ continues to raise the level of both pairs: today we won, and we must continue in this way”. “We are very happy to lift this trophy in front of a crowd that made us feel at home”, added Ale Galan, named MVP of the final. “We improved our level day by day, and I can only thank Fede for playing in this way”.

 

The Qatar Airways Premier Padel Tour will return in one week’s time: first the P2 in Cancun, followed by the P1 in Miami.