Day 4: Belasteguin-Yanguas, comeback win to gain the quarter finals; Navarro goes through

“Un Belasteguin nunca se rinde”. He did not give up, as written on the lace of his racket, even in the BNL Italy Major Premier Padel Round of 16, staged today in the Foro Italico scenario. One set down against Spaniards Arroyo and Rubio and after losing the advantage break he had gained in the second, the Argentine ambassador of the discipline – along with partner Mike Yanguas – regained his head and his game and managed to close in three sets (2-6, 6-3, 6-4) in more than two hours, booking the pass for Roman Major quarter finals.

On Day 4 of the tournament the number 1 seeded players in the men’s and women’s draw won and convinced. Juan Lebron and Ale Galan opened the afternoon’s schedule in style, overcoming Rico and Gutierrez 6-1 6-4 in one hour and fifteen minutes: the Pietrangeli was packed and in raptures for the world’s strongest pair. Next up, Spaniards Ari Sanchez and Paula Josemaria gave their compatriots Martinez and Goenaga no chance, beating them 6-2 6-1 in less than an hour’s play. Number 2 seeded Triay and Ortega also won comfortably on the Centre Court, beating the number 12 seeded Fernandez-Bidahorria 6-0 6-1. The dream of Italian Carolina Orsi, paired with Spanish Llaguno, came to an end in the Round of 16: on court 8, stormed by fans, Sanchez Alayeto twins won 0-6, 6-3, 6-4. Virseda and Jensen, seeded number 7, along with Castello and Araujo, number 8, and Collombon and Iglesias, number 10, go through.

In the evening, in the men’s draw, the big surprise of the day. Number 5 seeded players Ruiz and Tello were eliminated by Del Castillo and Benitez with an eloquent 7-6, 6-2, while the second favourites for the final victory – the Argentines Stupaczuk and Di Nenno – needed another comeback win to beat in three sets (4-6, 6-3, 6-3) the Spaniards Sanz and Nieto. There was a great performance by Chingotto and Paquito Navarro, increasingly the idol of the Foro Italico to the tune of Gala‘s ‘Freed from desire’: they gave up just four games to the Spaniards Ramirez and Munoz, who were overwhelmed 6-3, 6-1; the same result was achieved by Coello and Tapia, the number 4 seed, who beated Solano and Chozas.