By Kevin Rademeyer, Sports Journalist.
Photo Credit: Premier Padel/ Mariano Castro.
Agustín Tapia and Arturo Coello came from behind to secure another title, while Ari Sánchez and Andrea Ustero continued their impressive run of form as the Milano P1 brought the European leg of the Qatar Airways Premier Padel Tour to a close.
The world No. 1 men’s pairing overcame Juan Lebrón and Leo Augsburger in a three- set final at the Allianz Cloud, claiming their 12th major title of the season and extending their lead over Alejandro Galán and Federico Chingotto in the FIP Race.
On the women’s side, third seeds Sánchez and Ustero defeated Bea González and Paula Josemaría to strengthen their grip on second place in the standings and maintain their challenge for the world No. 1 ranking.
Sánchez and Ustero have established themselves as one of the most formidable partnerships on tour, winning three of the last four tournaments and building momentum ahead of the season’s decisive stretch.
Their Milano final against González and Josemaría began under pressure, with the Spanish pair trailing 2- 5 in the opening set. They responded with a determined comeback, forcing a tie break and taking control of the match before sealing a 6- 3 victory.
Sánchez provided consistency across the court, while Ustero’s attacking play, particularly her smash, helped the pair take command as the match progressed.
The victory also drew Sánchez level with Alejandra Salazar and Gemma Triay on 58 career titles, placing her among the most successful active players in the women’s game. The result leaves the 2026 head to head between the two finalist partnerships level at four wins apiece.
Ustero credited their attitude with turning the match around. “I wasn’t feeling good in the first set. The change came in our attitude,” she said. “I play alongside a world No. 1 who keeps reminding me that even when things aren’t going our way, the one thing that cannot fail is our attitude.”
Sánchez praised her partner’s response after a difficult start, saying it was an excellent way to finish the European swing.
The title earns Sánchez and Ustero another 2,000 FIP Race points as a team. They remain second in the standings, 1,980 points behind world No. 1s Gemma Triay and Delfi Brea, with two Majors, a P1 tournament and the Finals still to come. A total of 6,500 points remains available, keeping the battle for the top position open.
Tapia and Coello once again demonstrated why they remain the benchmark in men’s padel, recovering from a difficult start to defeat Lebrón and Augsburger and claim a fourth consecutive title.
The third seeds arrived in the final after a dramatic semi final victory over Galán and Chingotto, recovering from a 6- 0 opening set defeat to book their place in the championship match.
Lebrón and Augsburger carried that momentum into the final, pushing the world No. 1 pairing onto the defensive with their explosive attacking game. Tapia and Coello eventually took the opening set 6 – 4, producing 33 winners compared with their opponents’ 20.
The match turned in the second set when Lebrón and Augsburger earned three break points at 0 to 40 with the score at 1 -1. Tapia and Coello survived the game, then secured a break of their own to win the set 6- 3 and level the contest.
The momentum was firmly with the champions in the decider. They controlled the crucial exchanges and closed out a 6- 2 set victory, completing the comeback in one hour and 57 minutes.
Coello acknowledged the quality of their opponents and the difficulty of the contest. “They played at an incredible level. In the first set and for much of the second, they played better than us and found solutions,” he said. “The key to the comeback was to keep fighting and dreaming of the title.”
Tapia highlighted the importance of saving the three break points, describing the moment as a turning point after a demanding run of matches.
The victory adds another 2,000 points to their FIP Race tally and increases their advantage over Galán and Chingotto, who collected 720 points after their semi final exit. If their form continues, Tapia and Coello could secure the year end world No. 1 ranking for a fourth consecutive season in the coming weeks.
The tour now moves to Kuwait, where the tournament runs from 26 to 31 October. With the race for the year end rankings intensifying, the event will carry significant weight in both the battle for the top positions and qualification for the Premier Padel Finals.
The Finals will feature the 16 highest ranked men and women in the FIP Race, leaving little room for error as the season enters its closing stages.
In Milan, Tapia and Coello reinforced their dominance, while Sánchez and Ustero strengthened their credentials as genuine contenders for the women’s crown. Both partnerships leave Europe with titles, momentum and a clear target for the final stretch of the season.