Day3. Ageless Salazar: into the quarter-finals after three and a half hours. Sanchez-Gutierrez take on the ‘Chingalan’

Ale Salazar has repeated it whenever she has had the chance: “I want to enjoy all of this until the very last point.” The Spanish legend, who will retire from professional padel at the end of 2026, stayed true to her word in Düsseldorf. Partnering Aranzazu Osoro, she featured in the longest match of the women’s round of 16, lasting three hours and 31 minutes. Araceli and Lucia Martinez, beaten 7-5 6-7 7-6, had to bow to an ageless champion. Salazar and the ‘Vikinga’ will return to court today for the quarter-finals against Ari Sanchez and Andrea Ustero, who were also taken to a deciding set by Jimena Velasco and Raquel Eugenio before closing out a 4-6 6-3 6-1 victory. All eight seeded pairs have reached the quarter-finals of the CUPRA Germany P2 women’s draw. The other matches are Brea/Triay (1)-Jensen/Canovas (8), Fernandez/Calvo (4)-Ortega/Araujo (5) and Guinart/Alonso (6)-Josemaria/Gonzalez (2).

 

MEN Having eliminated Fran Guerrero and Javi Leal (7), and Momo Gonzalez and Lucas Campagnolo (8), respectively, Gonza Alfonso and Tino Libaak, as well as Maxi Arce and Juan Tello, are continuing their impressive runs. Alfonso/Libaak defeated Solano Marmolejo/Pereyra 6-3 6-4 and will now face the world number ones, Arturo Coello and Agustin Tapia, who beat Diestro/Sintes 6-2 6-3. Arce/Tello, meanwhile, overcame Geens/Moragues 7-5 6-3 and will meet Juan Lebron and Leo Augsburger in the quarter-finals. Lebron and Augsburger had to come from a set down to defeat Inigo Jofre and Juanlu Esbri 3-6 6-3 6-3. In the bottom half of the draw, Franco Stupaczuk and Jon Sanz will face Paquito Navarro and Martin Di Nenno in a quarter-final between the number 4 and 5 seeds. Maxi Sanchez Blasco and Sanyo Gutierrez, reunited as a pair, advanced with a 6-2 6-2 victory over lucky losers Alvaro Montiel and Dani Santigosa and will now attempt an upset against defending champions Fede Chingotto and Ale Galan, who survived a tough test against Javi Garrido and Juani De Pascual, winning 4-6 6-1 7-5.