The second day of the quarter-finals of the Qatar Airways Premier Padel Finals in Barcelona became a marathon of epic proportions in the iconic Palau Sant Jordi. Each match went to three sets and lasted over two hours, resulting in surprising victories in the men’s class and impressive comebacks among the top female seeds. The intense drama and high stakes kept fans on the edge of their seats for over twelve hours.
The first match at the Palau Sant Jordi featured a remarkable turnaround as fourth-seeded Delfi Brea and Virginia Virseda battled back against Alonso and Andrea Ustero – one of the season’s breakthrough pairings. Alonso and Ustero exploited weaknesses early in the match and won the first set 6-2. However, Brea and Virseda eliminated their errors in the second set and forced a decisive third set. They broke decisively at 4-4 and eventually won 6-4.
In a tactical masterclass, Jon Sanz and Coki Nieto triumphed in one of the best matches of the day, defeating third-seeded Franco Stupaczuk and Mike Yanguas to secure a spot in the semifinals. After losing the first set in a tie-break, the Spanish pair refused to give up and took the second set to force a decisive set. Nieto and Sanz needed six match balls to close out the match, resulting in one of the biggest surprises of the tournament.
After the victory, Jon Sanz reflected on the significance of the moment and the unique atmosphere of the Premier Padel Finals. He highlighted the grandeur of the tournament and the challenge of performing on such a prestigious stage: “It’s a very special tournament for us. Palau is unbelievable, and I think all the players say that. It’s a challenge to play in front of so many people on such a big stage, but it’s a special tournament and we’re very happy to keep playing here.” However, Sanz had to cancel post-match interviews due to cramps and had to go straight to the physio for treatment.
Second-seeded Gemma Triay and Claudia Fernández won a hard-fought battle against Tamara Icardo and Claudia Jensen – their third win against this pair. The top seeds started strong and won the first set 6-2. Icardo and Jensen, who have been playing together since the Paris Major, struck back in the second set with balanced attack and defense to win 6-4. The deciding set was a rollercoaster with five service breaks, but Triay and Fernández held their nerve and won the match.
After the intense battle, Claudia Fernández reflected on the resilience that defined their victory. “Claudia and Tamara are warriors and fought to the end. I don’t know how Gemma found the strength to continue with cramps, but she did it and fought wonderfully. We’ve had a very positive season,” she commented.
Momo González and Edu Alonso shocked the world’s second-ranked pair, Alejandro Galán and Federico Chingotto, to secure a spot in the semifinals. In an intense, two-and-a-half-hour match, sixth-seeded González and Alonso took advantage of a slow start from their rivals to win the first set. Despite a strong comeback from Galán and Chingotto, Momo and Edu held their nerve in a dramatic third set – with incredible save shots and long duels – to win. The victory marks a breakthrough for Alonso, who has gone from FIP rank 45 to top 16 in the Finals and is now among the top four pairs vying for the final title of the season.
