Day2. Gonzalez-Cabeza and Pereyra-Solano Marmolejo: a Wednesday to remember

This is padel. Just three days ago in Pretoria, Fran Guerrero and Javi Leal came within a single point of lifting the title against Fede Chingotto and Ale Galan. Then came the long journey, the start of a new tournament and a remarkable upset, as the young duo Mariano Gonzalez and Curro Cabeza defeated the seventh seeds 6-3 4-6 7-5 to book their place in the round of 16 at the London Premier Padel P1. The exit of Guerrero and Leal was not the only major surprise of the day. Ramiro Pereyra and José Solano Marmolejo also produced a stunning comeback, defeating fourth seeds Franco Stupaczuk and Mike Yanguas 6-7 6-4 6-1 as the latter returned to competition after missing the South African tournament. The result opens up the draw, where even Pretoria champions Fede Chingotto and Ale Galan were pushed to three sets before overcoming Flavio Abbate and Alvaro Montiel 6-3 6-7 6-2. More straightforward were the victories of Arturo Coello and Agustin Tapia, who defeated Nuno and Miguel Deus 6-2 6-4, and Juan Lebron and Leo Augsburger, who beat Clement Geens and Thomas Leygue 6-2 6-2. Also progressing were Nacho Piotto and Juan Cruz Belluati, who came from a set down to defeat Javi Garrido and Lucas Bergamini 3-6 6-4 6-1. There was no happy ending for home favourite Christian Medina Murphy, who, alongside Alberto Garcia, was beaten by 10th seeds Juan Tello and Maxi Arce in the evening session.

 

WOMEN Ahead of the debut of the top four seeds in Thursday’s round of 16, starting at 10 a.m. local time (11 a.m. CEST), the standout result in the women’s draw was the emphatic 6-1 6-1 victory of Bea Caldera and Carmen Goenaga over Ale Salazar and Aranzazu Osoro. Paula Josemaria and Bea Gonzalez will open play on centre court against Lucia Martinez and Agueda Perez, followed by Ari Sanchez and Andrea Ustero against Martina Fassio and Raquel Eugenio. Delfi Brea and Gemma Triay will open the afternoon session, not before 3.30 p.m. local time, against Lorena Rufo and Victoria Iglesias.