Paredes, Day1. Sanchez and Garcia deliver the first upset of the week. Nogueira and Santos delight the home crowd

The first major upset of the FIP Platinum Paredes (Portugal) came courtesy of Emilio Sanchez and Alberto Garcia. With a 3-6 6-3 6-4 victory over the tournament’s number 8 seeds, Alex Chozas and Tino Libaak, the two Spaniards advanced to the round of 16, scheduled for today, when the tournament’s leading pairs will begin their campaigns. Among them are Edu Alonso and Aimar Goñi, who will face Alonso Rodriguez and Juani De Pascual, winners 6-3 6-2 against Portuguese wild cards Antonio Luque and Joao Maria Caiano. José Jimenez and Javi Garcia, the number 3 seeds, will open their tournament against José Diestro and Nacho Piotto, who eliminated qualifiers Perry/Zamora in two tie-break sets. Juan Tello and Maxi Arce (4) will take on Rodrigo Coello (brother of world number 1 Arturo Coello) and Sweden’s Adam Axelsson.

 

WOMEN Marina Guinart and Veronica Virseda, the women’s number 1 seeds and winners of the most recent FIP Platinum event in Tirana, will begin their campaign against Sandra Bellver and Ana Varo. Bea Caldera and Carmen Goenaga (2) will face Marta Arellano and Monica Gomez, who came through a closely contested match to defeat Victoria Kurz and Nati Lopez Diaz 6-2 6-7 7-6. Portuguese players Ana Catarina Nogueira, the experienced veteran, and the young Clarinha Santos advanced to the second round by defeating Hemmes/Luttikhuis and will now face the number 3 seeds, Victoria Iglesias and Aranzazu Osoro. Nogueira/Santos are the only Portuguese pair through to the round of 16, with the home crowd firmly behind them.