By Kevin Rademeyer, Sports Journalist.
Photo Credit : Premier Padel.
Premier Padel returned from its summer break at Madrid’s Movistar Arena, with the sport’s leading men’s pairings immediately back into winning form.
World No.1s Arturo Coello and Agustín Tapia made the strongest statement of the opening day, sweeping aside Mouriño and Quílez 6 0, 6 1 in just 43 minutes.
The pair arrived in Madrid fresh from winning the inaugural London P1 before the break and showed little sign of rust as they dominated from the opening point.
Their main rivals also progressed in straight sets. Madrid born Alejandro Galán and Argentina’s Fede Chingotto defeated Patiniotis and García 6 2, 6 4, while defending Madrid champions Juan Lebrón and Leo Augsburger beat Hernández and Martínez 6 3, 6 3.
There were also promising starts for two new partnerships in the upper half of the draw.
Fourth seeds Franco Stupaczuk and Jon Sanz, who had just faced Coki Nieto and Mike Yanguas in the FIP Gold Belgrade final, both began their Premier Padel campaigns with victories.
Stupaczuk and Sanz defeated Cabeza and González San Martín 6 4, 6 3, while fifth seeds Nieto and Yanguas recorded the same score against Piotto and Perino.
The biggest upset came from Flavio Abbate and Alonso Rodríguez, who produced an impressive comeback against seventh seeds Javi Leal and Fran Guerrero.
Leal and Guerrero, finalists at the Pretoria P1 in August, took the opening set 6 2 but were unable to close out the match. Abbate and Rodríguez fought back to win both remaining sets in tie breaks, completing a 2 6, 7 6, 7 6 victory.
Paquito Navarro and Martín Di Nenno were among the other leading pairings to progress, beating Collantes and Martínez 6 1, 6 2. Momo González and Lucas Campagnolo also advanced with a 6 4, 6 3 victory over Perino and Fernández Lancha.
Ninth seeds Javi Garrido and Lucas Bergamini were the notable casualties, losing 6 3, 7 6 to Gonza Alfonso and Tino Libaak.
The Argentine pairing has emerged as one of the combinations to watch since joining forces in South Africa, and they now have their first last 16 appearance together.
In the women’s draw, the spotlight was firmly on Alejandra Salazar as the 40 year old begins the final tournament of her career in her home city.
The former world No.1 and Aranza Osoro survived a demanding encounter with Manquillo and Martínez, winning 6 3, 3 6, 6 3 to reach the last 16.
They will face Lorena Rufo and Victoria Iglesias.
Madrid’s Marta Ortega, playing alongside Sofia Araújo, also advanced comfortably, beating Luján and Martínez 6 1, 6 2. They will meet Bea Caldera and Carmen Goenaga next.
The tournament’s leading women’s partnerships enter the competition on Thursday, with Triay and Brea, González and Josemaría, Sánchez and Ustero, and Fernández and Calvo all beginning their campaigns.
The return to Madrid has already delivered dominant victories, new partnerships making their mark and a few early surprises. The biggest names, however, are only just getting started.