Day 2. Rubio-Lijo, from CUPRA FIP Tour title to feat against Chozas and Augsburger

In the last two CUPRA FIP Tour tournaments played, Gonzalo Rubio and Pablo Lijo achieved excellent results: title in the FIP Rise in Alcalá de Guadaíra and, before that, semi-finals in the FIP Gold in Lyon. The International Padel Federation circuit prepared Rubio and Lijo for a great feat, the one achieved in the second round of the Premier Padel Kuwait City P1 against the number 15 seed on the draw, world champions Alex Chozas and Leo Augsburger, beaten 7-6 6-2. This was not the only result that overturned the predictions: Fran Guerrero and Jairo Bautista, also stars on the CUPRA FIP Tour (two titles in the Platinum in Marbella and in the Gold in Lyon), beat Javi and Victor Ruiz (16) 6-3 6-4. Good debut for another world champion, Tino Libaak, who paired with Fernando Belasteguin (10) overcame Diego Gil and Rafa Mendez 6-3 6-4, and winning debut also for Javi Garrido and Lucas Bergamini (8), with 6-4 6-2 to Aris Patiniotis and Jesus Moya. On Wednesday, starting at 12 noon local time, 10 a.m. CET, it will be time for the world’s best players: Arturo Coello and Agustin Tapia (1) against Sanchez Chamero/Dominguez, Fede Chingotto and Ale Galan (2) against the brothers Nuno and Miguel Deus, Martin Di Nenno and Juan Lebron (3) against Esbri/Gil, Franco Stupaczuk and Mike Yanguas (4) against Torre/Valdes.

WOMEN The number 5 to 8 seeds in the women’s draw advanced without losing a set: Ale Salazar and Jessica Castelló (7-5 6-3 to Saiz/Lobo), Lucia Sainz and Patty Llaguno (6-2 6-1 to Marchetti/Pappacena), Tamara Icardo and Claudia Jensen (6-2 6-4 to Sharifova/Marrero) and Aranzazu Osoro and Veronica Virseda (6-1 6-1 to Guinart/Iglesias) qualified for the round of 16. On Wednesday the top four pairs on the draw will take the court: Paula Josemaria and Ari Sanchez will open the schedule on centre court with a big match against Ale Alonso and Andrea Ustero, finalists on Sunday in the P1 in Dubai, but Gemma Triay and Claudia Fernandez (2) against Navarro/Aguilar, Dubai champions Delfi Brea and Bea Gonzalez (3) against Orsi/Rodriguez and Marta Ortega and Sofia Araujo (4) against Arruabarrena/Polo will also play.