Galan and Lebron still champions: ‘Superpibes’ beaten in an epic final – Brea and Gonzalez crowned in Milan: Araujo-Salazar ko

It was an unforgettable Sunday. The Allianz Cloud in Milan, once again sold out, celebrated the second triumph of Ale Galan and Juan Lebron, at the end of a great final that lasted three hours against Franco Stupaczuk and Martin Di Nenno, and that of Delfina Brea and Bea Gonzalez, who, after the Madrid title, won their second Premier Padel title of the season.

UOMINI An epic final, the kind that will remain in the history of padel. One year later, it is still Ale Galan and Juan Lebron who are the kings of Milano Premier Padel P1, at the end of three hours of battle, show, tricks, hugs and tears. Those of joy of the winners, those of sadness of the ‘Superpibes’ Franco Stupaczuk and Martin Di Nenno, who were able to take the match to the third set.

Three hours, but also three tiebreaks: it ended 7-6 6-7 7-6, a match that Galan and Lebron had to win twice. Yes, because after winning the first set, at 5-4 in the second set the Spaniards had three match points, none of which they took advantage of, with Lebron who in the decisive points could have done something more. It then went to the second tiebreak, with Stupa/Di Nenno able to take home a set that lasted an hour and eight minutes. In the third, the first break, the one that looked like it could be decisive for success, was again that of Lebron and Galan (4-3), who, however, suffered the break in the next game. And perhaps it was right that, after such a show, the match was still decided in the final game: a good start by Stupaczuk and Di Nenno, a comeback by Galan and Lebron up to 5-5, with the fourth match point being the good one.

“First of all, I have to congratulate Franco and Martin – said ‘el Lobo’ Lebron –. The four of us did the show: we live for this, to win the title. Thanks to Ale for supporting me especially in the second set when I didn’t play well. We had a difficult season, with a long period without playing due to injury: but here we are, with the trophy in our hands”. “We were looking forward to being here to live this great week – added Galan –. We know that Italy loves us, as we love Italy and Milan. We faced two warriors, but I am very proud of the work we did and that we managed to show on the court. We wanted to be ourselves again”. They succeeded, winning their first Premier Padel title of the season on the last tournament of the season, against super Franco Stupaczuk, who was voted best player of the tournament (with Bea Gonzalez mvp of the women’s draw) despite losing.

DONNE After Madrid, now it’s Italy’s turn. Delfina Brea and Bea Gonzalez are the champions of the Milano Premier Padel P1. In the final, the Argentine and the Spanish – seeded number 3 in the women’s draw – beat Sofia Araujo and Alejandra Salazar (4) 6-0 7-6 in an hour and 37 minutes in a final that was dominated in the first set but became balanced in the second. A success that is therefore a repeat for ‘Delfi’ and ‘Bea’ (voted mvp of the tournament), who had already won the first of the four tournaments of the Premier Padel circuit. A clear and deserved victory, which followed the one in the semifinals against Paula Josemaria and Ari Sanchez. For Brea, who in Milan also celebrated her 24th birthday and who also has a connection with…Pope Francis. It was Bergoglio who baptized Delfina in Buenos Aires, in the church of San José, in the Barrio Flores where they both were born and raised.

Brea and Gonzalez had a strong start, immediately going up two breaks that set the tone for the first set and the final. Too many errors from Araujo and Salazar – the latter making her Premier debut in Italy after an injury forced her to miss the Rome Major –; on the other hand, a masterful performance especially from Bea Gonzalez. After nine consecutive games, Araujo/Salazar managed to move the score, recovering the break behind (3-2) and, in fact, entering the match. However, the tiebreak also smiled at Brea and Gonzalez, who won it with a score of 7-4, before embracing each other and the Allianz Cloud crowd.

“It was a spectacular week”, admits Delfina Brea. “I’m a little tired but very happy. I thank our coach Jorge Martinez so much, but also the public who certainly gave us a hand”. In the second set, there was more of a match. “It seemed like the ball was never going where we wanted to put it”, Bea Gonzalez acknowledges. “We managed to win and we are very happy, it was a spectacular week”.