FIP Platinum Sardegna, surprising quarter-finals: Cepero-Lijo and Guerrero-García in the semi-finals, Momo-Alonso advance

The quarter-finals “soirée” of the FIP Platinum Sardegna is packed with spectacular matches featuring big names who have made recent padel history, and those fighting to take their place. In the first afternoon match, the attempt to overturn the odds against the tournament’s number 2 seeds – Momo Gonzalez and Edu Alonso (ranked 12th and 23nd in the FIP ranking) was unsuccessful for Leal-Campagnolo. They fought well on the Centrale court but lost in two sets, with a double 6-4. At the same time, on court 1, Maxi Sanchez and Lucho Capra, the third seeds and ranked 18th and 22nd in the FIP ranking, faced off against Fran Guerrero (46th in the FIP ranking) and Javi Garcia (49th). Guerrero-Garcia, born in 2003 in Malaga and 2000 in Murcia respectively, surprised everyone. Guerrero’s best result this season was the quarter-finals of the Premier Padel P2 in Puerto Cabello; Garcia made it to the semi-finals of the FIP Gold Valladolid. There was no doubt that Sanchez-Capra, semi-finalists here in Cagliari last year, were the favorites. However, the Spanish duo pulled off a surprise, winning a hard-fought match 6-4, 7-6 to advance to the semi-finals against Gonzalez-Alonso in the second afternoon match (starting at 17).

The third match of the evening, Rubio-Arroyo vs. Esbri-Goenaga, offered a high-level technical and competitive spectacle, thrilling the hundreds of spectators on the Centrale court. The first set saw Rubio-Arroyo take the lead (6-3), the second was dominated by their opponents (6-1). The third set was a spectacle: Goenaga-Esbri produced two breaks, seemingly decisive, leading first 4-3 and then 5-3. However, Arroyo’s grit, his powerful shots, and Rubio’s tactical geometry led to a comeback: 7-5 and semi-final.
The fourth match is the big surprise of the day, with Cepero-Lijo overturning all predictions by eliminating the number 1 seeds of the tournament, Fernando Belasteguin and Javi Garrido. The match ended in two sets, 7-5, 6-3, starting on the Central Court and continuing on another court due to evening humidity issues. This unexpected twist propels Cepero and Lijo into the semifinals against Rubio/Arroyo, a match to watch tomorrow evening not before 7.30 PM.

WOMEN In the first match of the morning for the women’s quarter-finals, Marta Marrero — the former world number one who returned to play a few weeks ago after pausing in 2022 to fulfill her dream of becoming a mother — paired with Osoro to reach the semi-finals with a double 6-3 win over Lobo-Saiz. Marrero-Osoro will play for a spot in the final (Friday at 9.30) against the Spanish duo Iglesias-Guinart, the third seeds who defeated the Franco-Argentinian pair Collombon-Bidahorria 4-6 6-2 6-4. The top seeds Riera-Goenaga, who will face Orsi-Rodriguez, had to fight through the third set to close their match against Merino-Carnicero (6-7, 6-0, 6-4). “There is a special feeling with Sardinia. Last year I made the final here, and now I will play the semi-final against the tournament’s number one seeds, Riera and Goenaga, a very strong pair, but here in Cagliari, there is a touch of magic for me, so anything can happen…”. Carolina Orsi – number 5 seed of the FIP Platinum Sardegna, along with her partner Nuria Rodriguez – celebrates after their quarter-final win this morning, where they defeated Ksenia Sharifova and Lucia Martinez (6-7 6-3 6-4) and challenges the tournament’s number one seeds at 17 on the Centrale court of TC Cagliari.