By Estea Rademeyer, Sports Journalist.
Photo: Credit Premier Padel.
The quarter finals of the Oysho Milano Premier Padel P1 delivered a day of compelling action at the Allianz Cloud on Friday, with the leading teams advancing to set up a series of high profile semi finals on Saturday.
One of the day’s most significant moments came as Alejandra Salazar played her final professional match on Italian soil. The Spanish legend and her partner, Aranza Osoro, were beaten by Ari Sánchez and Andrea Ustero, while the women’s and men’s draws produced several anticipated clashes for the next round.
Claudia Fernández and her partner, Calvo, continued their impressive form with a convincing 6 -1, 6 – 2 victory over former partners Martita Ortega and Sofia Araújo. The match lasted one hour and seven minutes.
Since joining forces in July, Calvo and Fernández have won two titles and finished runners up twice. They have also reached the semi finals at every tournament they have played together.
Their next challenge will be against Bea González and Paula Josemaría, who progressed after Tamara Icardo and Claudia Jensen were forced to retire at the start of the second set because of Icardo’s injury. González and Josemaría had taken the opening set 6 to 1.
The semi final will be the third meeting between the pairs during the current European swing, following encounters in Rotterdam and Düsseldorf. Calvo and Fernández lead their head to head record 3 to 2.
Salazar, one of the most decorated players in padel history, brought her professional career in Italy to a close on Friday alongside Osoro.
A four-time world number one with 59 titles and seven FIP World Cup victories, Salazar was unable to finish her Italian campaign with a win. Sánchez and Ustero, who have won two of their last three tournaments, secured a 6 – 4, 6 – 3 victory in one hour and 13 minutes.
After the match, Salazar received a special trophy from the Milano P1 featuring the word “gracias”, recognising her contribution to the sport.
Sánchez and Ustero will now face world number ones Gemma Triay and Delfi Brea. Triay and Brea defeated Jimena Velasco and Raquel Eugenio 6 – 2, 7 – 6 to reach the semi finals. Saturday’s match will be the 11th meeting between the pairs this season, with the head to head record level at five wins apiece.
The top four men’s pairs also progressed with straight set victories.
World number two Chingotto and Ale Galán overcame Gonza Alfonso and Tino Libaak, winning 6- 3 before surviving a tense second set. Chingotto and Galán had to save three match points at 5 – 6, trailing 0 – 40, before taking the set in a tie break.
They will meet Juan Lebrón and Leo Augsburger in the semi finals. Lebrón and Augsburger defeated Javier Garrido and Juani De Pascual 7 -6, 6 – 3, ending the run of one of the tournament’s surprise pairings.
In the other semi final, world number ones Agustín Tapia and Arturo Coello will face Franco Stupaczuk and Jon Sanz in a repeat of the recent Rotterdam P2 and Germany P2 finals.
Tapia and Coello beat Javi Leal and Fran Guerrero 6- 2, 6- 2, while Stupaczuk and Sanz defeated Lucas Campagnolo and Momo González 6 to 3, 6 to 4 without conceding a break point.
Saturday’s semi final schedule
Women’s semi finals
Gemma Triay and Delfi Brea versus Ari Sánchez and Andrea Ustero
Claudia Fernández and Calvo versus Bea González and Paula Josemaría, not before 6pm.
Men’s semi finals
Agustín Tapia and Arturo Coello versus Franco Stupaczuk and Jon Sanz
Leo Augsburger and Juan Lebrón versus Ale Galán and Fede Chingotto.