BNL Italy Major Premier Padel, day 4: the perfect day of Campagnolo-Leal and Sharifova-Martinez

The BNL Italy Major Premier Padel has entered its decisive phase: there are eight pairs left to play for the title, which will become four after the quarter-finals starting with the morning session scheduled from 9am and the afternoon session not before 6pm divided between the Central and the Pietrangeli 1. Two feats of the day: that of Lucas Campagnolo and Javi Leal in the men’s draw and that of Ksenia Sharifova and Lucia Martinez Gomez in the women’s one.

MEN The path of the number 1 seed and defending champions Arturo Coello and Agustin Tapia continues: the Spaniard and the Argentine, on the Centre Court, defeated Javier Barahona and Teo Zapata 6-4 4-6 6-0 and will play against Mike Yanguas and Javi Garrido in the quarters. The Spanish pair, seeded sixth in the men’s draw, won the derby against Javi Rico and Juanlu Esbri (16), beaten 6-4 3-6 6-2. On the other hand, number 2 seeded Fede Chingotto and Ale Galan didn’t take the court due to the withdrawal of Fran Guerrero and Jairo Bautista: they will do so on Friday against Edu Alonso and Alex Arroyo (11), who eliminated Maxi Sanchez and Sanyo Gutierrez (8) with a double 6-2. The other quarter-final at the top end will face Momo Gonzalez and Alex Ruiz (7), who were finalists in Bordeaux and beat Lucho Capra and Alex Chozas (12) 7-5 7-6, and Paquito Navarro and Juan Lebron (4), who, after taking risks against Perino/Garcia, gave a great show of strength, leaving only three games (6-1 6-2) to Lucas Bergamini and Victor Ruiz (10). At the bottom half, however, facing the ‘Superpibes’ Franco Stupaczuk and Martin Di Nenno, the number 3 seed and victorious 6-4 4-6 6-3 over Javi Ruiz and Pablo Cardona, opposed Lucas Campagnolo and Javi Leal (13), victorious with a double 6-4 over Fernando Belasteguin and Juan Tello (5).

WOMEN If in the women’s draw the top two pairs in the seeding advanced with great authority, there were some surprises. First the certainties: Paula Josemaria and Ari Sanchez, the number 1 in the FIP ranking, took only 56 minutes to defeat Bea Caldera and Lorena Rufo with a double 6-2. Seven minutes less than Gemma Triay and Claudia Fernandez (2), who in one hour and three minutes gave up only three games (6-1 6-2) to Giorgia Marchetti (the last Italian left in the running) and Lea Godallier. Josemaria/Sanchez in the quarters will not find Ale Alonso and Andrea Ustero (9) but Carla Mesa and Sara Ruiz Soto who, after defeating Ale Salazar and Carmen Goenaga, continue their great tournament. Surprise opponents also for Triay/Fernandez, who find Marina Guinart and Araceli Martinez (16), thanks to a 6-4 6-2 victory over Virginia Riera and Sofia Araujo (6). The other quarterfinals will see Delfi Brea and Alba Gallardo (4), victorious 7-5 2-6 6-2 over Marta Talavan and Ana Catarina Nogueira (13) against Jessica Castelló and Claudia Jensen (5), who in the evening took advantage of the withdrawal of Agueda Perez and Patricia Martinez when they were anyway ahead 6-1 3-0. Lucia Sainz and Patty Llaguno (8), after 6-1 3-6 6-0 to Sandra Bellver and Marta Borrero, will finally face Ksenia Sharifova and Lucia Martinez Gomez, who overturned the predictions by defeating 7-6 6-2 Marta Ortega and Veronica Virseda (3), coming from the Bordeaux final.