Three days of padel with players of the highest level, spectacle and emotion led to a final day that will remain engraved in the memory of Puente Romano and all the fans who packed the stands. With each victory valued at three points, the margin for error was minimal and the tension was palpable long before the first serve. The captains, Jimmy Butler (Team Reserve) and Joaquin Sanchez (Team Marbella), knew that any detail could decide the title, while coaches Juan Martin Diaz and Maxi Grabiel fine-tuned every tactical move. It wasn’t just a trophy at stake: it was about leading their teams to their first Reserve Cup title on European soil.
A start that kept Team Marbella’s hopes alive
The afternoon began with Team Marbella having to win all three matches to lift the cup. In the first match, Juan Lebron and Xisco Gil took on Javi Garrido and Pablo Cardona in a vibrant and balanced match.
The initial equality was broken when Maxi Grabiel decided to make a move: Franco Stupaczuk came on court in place of Gil, a change that altered the course of the match. With the push of the crowd and the strength of the new pairing, Team Marbella took the win and added three vital points, adjusting the overall score to 7-5 to keep the tiebreak alive.
Ver esta publicación en Instagram
The decisive duel: Coello and Coki break the local dream
The second match was, for many, one of the great matches of the tournament. Mike Yanguas and Agustín Tapia faced Coki Nieto and Arturo Coello, regular partners who, for once, found themselves on opposite sides of the net. The serve draw was made by Carlos Moyá, whose presence fired up the crowd even more. The former world number one tennis player did not hesitate to praise the unstoppable growth of padel, describing it as ‘a great spectacle’ with a promising future.
Ver esta publicación en Instagram
The atmosphere was completed with live music from DJ Nicky Romero during the time-outs, turning the court into a real entertainment stage. On 20×10, the intensity was at its peak: fast exchanges, impossible points and a tension that was palpable in every shot. In the end, Coello and Coki won, mathematically securing the title for Team Reserve.
Ver esta publicación en Instagram
A celebratory end to the tournament
With the title decided, the final match between Javi Garcia and Javi Barahona against Maxi Sanchez and Lucas Campagnolo was played without qualifying pressure, but with the same commitment. The public, who for three days had been so enthusiastic about the event, thanked the players for their efforts until the last point.
At the final ceremony, the CEO and founder of Reserve Padel, Wayne Boich, thanked everyone involved for their hard work and the commitment of the players, underlining the importance of having taken the Reserve Cup outside the United States. The Mayoress of Marbella, María Ángeles Muñoz, celebrated the success of the event and expressed her wish that the city continues to host events of this calibre, recalling that ‘Marbella is the birthplace of padel’.
Team Reserve received a cheque for 180,000 dollars and the recognition of an audience that appreciated their commitment. In addition, the prizes were awarded for the Race Winner of the Reserve Cup Series, which crowned Coki Nieto as the final winner, pocketing 66,000 dollars, ahead of Arturo Coello, Ale Galan and Maxi Sanchez. The excited player from Madrid described the experience as ‘an honour and a source of pride’, highlighting that, although it is an exhibition competition, ‘we have taken it very seriously’.
Ver esta publicación en Instagram
The first European edition of the Reserve Cup bids farewell making it clear that Marbella has written a golden page in the history of international padel, fusing sport, spectacle and passion in a tournament that is already calling for its next edition.
|
You may be interested in: |
