Day 3: Coello-Tapia for Ruiz and Arroyo. Bergamini seeks to overtake in the FIP Race

The Premier Padel GNP Mexico Major enters its decisive phase. The round of 16 will be played on Thursday in Acapulco, spread over four courts and starting at 4 p.m. Mexican time, 11 p.m. CET. They play for the title in the last Major of the season and for the last places in the Premier Padel Finals in Barcelona (19-22 December), but destinies are intertwined. Arturo Coello and Agustin Tapia, the number 1 seed, after a 6-1 6-2 win in the debut to Pol Hernandez Alvarez and Rama Valenzuela will face in the round of 16 Alex Ruiz and Alex Arroyo (9), both in the running to make it to Barcelona. The FIP Platinum Mexico winners are looking for an epic feat against a pair with 36 consecutive wins. Ready to take advantage of a possible defeat is Lucas Bergamini, who, paired with Javi Garrido (8) after a comeback victory against Pablo Garcia Rodrigo and Arnau Ayats finds Javi Garcia and Javier Barahona hoping to move up in the FIP Race.

Sanyo Gutierrez’s tournament (paired with José Diestro) ended against Aris Patiniotis and Jesus Moya, while Pablo Cardona will not be playing in the round of 16: Paquito Navarro has withdrawn from the tournament – as Premier Padel has announced – for personal matters. Gerard Arnaldos and Agustin Torre are the surprises of the Acapulco Major: from the qualifiers to the round of 16 against Franco Stupaczuk and Mike Yanguas.

WOMEN In the women’s draw, number 1 seed Paula Josemaria and Ari Sanchez made their debut by beating Sofia Saiz and Marina Lobo 6-2 6-3 and will face in the round of 16 Andrea Ustero and Ale Alonso, the latter in the running for a place in the Finals along with Aranzazu Osoro (who will be playing Noemi Aguilar and Teresa Navarro in the round of 16 with Veronica Virseda), Virginia Riera (who with Carmen Goenaga will have a tough match against Marta Ortega and Sofia Araujo) and Tamara Icardo, who with Claudia Jensen – winner of the P1 in Acapulco in March – is trying to stay on the run and will face Marina Guinart and Victoria Iglesias in the round of 16.

Opening the programme on Centre Court will be Gemma Triay and Claudia Fernandez, who will face Marta Marrero and Ksenia Sharifova. The feat of the third day was Marta Barrera and Marta Caparros, victorious 6-4 6-4 over Lucia Sainz and Patty Llaguno (6).