Photo: Premier Padel
Saturday finals in Saudi Arabia. The Riyadh P1 has come to a close and we now know the first champions of 2026. A week of doubts, surprises and great matches… which, at the decisive moment, put everything back in its place.
They arrived with more doubts than certainties. They had struggled all week and were on the ropes in the semi-finals against Juan Lebrón and Leo Augsburger. Opposite them was a couple that had been on a roll: Ale Galán and Fede Chingotto had barely broken a sweat, playing at an exceptional level. But everything ended as it always does.
Thirtieth match between Arturo Coello and Agustín Tapia against Galán and Chingotto. The balance was already in favour of the number ones (20-9) and today they widened the gap. During the week, it seemed that today a small crack might open up. How naive. They are in another competitive galaxy.
The final was decided by the details. At the key moments. That’s where Gustavo Pratto’s team pushes a little harder than the rest. It wasn’t their most brilliant tournament, but from the first tiebreak in the semi-finals, Tapia changed his mindset and no one has been able to stop him. 6-4 and 6-2 and the first title of the year for the best couple in the world.
They had been warning us since the Hexagon Cup. Ari Sánchez and Andrea Ustero had not lost a single match at the start of the season and they confirmed their form by lifting the title in their first P1 together.
Opposite them were none other than the number ones, Gemma Triay and Delfi Brea. The first set went to Gemma and Delfi 3-6 and it looked like experience was going to prevail. But the Catalans responded with character and a resounding 6-1 that completely changed the dynamic.
In the final set, Gemma was hampered by physical problems caused by a blister on her foot, exacerbated by the heat in Riyadh. That small detail marked the final stretch. Ari and Andrea did not hesitate, maintaining their aggressiveness and closing out the match 6-4.
First P1 for Ustero. She is no longer a promise. She is the present. And with Ari leading the way, her growth could be exponential.
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