Following the elimination of all the Italian players in the men’s opening round, home favourites Giulia Dal Pozzo and Carolina Orsi got the Allianz Cloud crowd on its feet this Tuesday, securing their places in the Round of 16 at the Oysho Milano Premier Padel P1.

The day also featured winning debuts, including that of Alejandra Salazar, who is competing in her final tournament as a professional player on Italian soil alongside Aranza Osoro after announcing that she will retire at the end of the season. Top teams such as Paquito Navarro - Martín Di Nenno (#5), Fran Guerrero - Javi Leal (#6) and Momo González - Lucas Campagnolo (#7) also delivered, getting winning starts.

In addition, the tournament announced some news that will give Milano P1 a special touch: the champions will receive an exclusive championship ring, in the style of major leagues such as the NBA and NFL. Designed by Lagati Padel Jewels, the rings feature diamonds, rubies and emeralds, with an image of the Duomo at their centre, surrounded by the colours of the Italian flag.

Orsi Completes Comeback as Dal Pozzo Wins the Italian Derby

Italy’s two highest-ranked women in the FIP Ranking delighted the home crowd at the Allianz Cloud with victories in their Milano P1 debuts.

Carolina Orsi (#31) had to come from behind alongside Patty Llaguno in a tough encounter against the newly formed team of Sofía Saiz - Marta Talaván (#19). The Roman player and her Spanish partner dropped the opening set but regrouped to take control of the match, winning 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in two hours and 20 minutes.

“A close match against two excellent players who made us work hard from the very beginning, but… our first win! A huge thank you to the Milanese crowd, whose warmth has encouraged us from the very first point!” Orsi wrote on social media. On Thursday, she will face Jimena Velasco - Raquel Eugenio (#13), who knocked out the tournament’s No. 7 seeds, Marina Guinart - Alejandra Alonso, in today's opening match, winning 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.

Giulia Dal Pozzo had a more straightforward path to victory alongside Nuria Rodriguez in her Italian clash against national team-mate Giorgia Marchetti and Spanish player Lara Arruabarrena. A commanding 6-0, 6-3 win sealed their place in the next round in just 58 minutes. Their opponents in the Round of 16 will be the legendary Salazar and Osoro, the tournament’s No. 8 seeds.

“I have a special connection with Milano. It was here that I first realised I could believe in what I was doing and dedicate my life to this sport. I’m happy to be back. Salazar - Osoro will be the favourites in our next match, but we’ll give it everything we’ve got… and I’m counting on the roar of the Milanese crowd!” said Dal Pozzo, the only Italian woman to have reached a Major semi-final on Tour, who has just climbed to a career-high No. 25 in the FIP Ranking.

Yanguas and Caldera Win with New Teammates

Another talking point from the day was seeing Mike Yanguas and Beatriz Caldera take to the court alongside new partners after their respective team-mates, Coki Nieto and Carmen Goenaga, withdrew through injury.

Yanguas, runner-up at the Newgiza P2 and Madrid P1 this season, chose to team up with Pablo Lijó, who came close to defeating Agustín Tapia - Arturo Coello on several occasions earlier in the season alongside his former partner Maxi Arce.

The new team edged a tight contest against Javi Ruiz - Jose Luis González (#32), winning 7-5, 6-2 in one hour and 38 minutes. As the tournament’s No. 8 seeds, their next challenge will be against Tino Libaak - Gonza Alfonso (#15), who have been in excellent form and learned just a few days ago that they had been called up to represent Argentina at the FIP World Cup.

Meanwhile, Caldera is competing at the tournament alongside Noa Cánovas, who also benefited from an individual Lucky Loser spot last week to compete alongside Claudia Jensen in Düsseldorf.

Despite not being used to playing together, Caldera - Cánovas (#10) won their opening match in style, beating Léa Godallier - Daiara Valenzuela (#23) 6-2, 6-2. Their next opponents will be the world No. 1s, Gemma Triay - Delfi Brea, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.

Time for the Favourites to Take Centre Stage

Tomorrow, the Tour’s four top-ranked men’s teams will begin their Milano P1 campaigns: Agustín Tapia - Arturo Coello, Ale Galán - Fede Chingotto, Juan Lebrón - Leo Augsburger and Jon Sanz - Franco Stupaczuk.

The Golden Boys, champions at the last three tournaments in Paris, Rotterdam and Düsseldorf, will face Arnau Ayats - Emilio Chamero. Meanwhile, Chingalán will look to begin their title defence with a win against Portuguese brothers Miguel Deus - Nuno Deus (#30).

Immediately afterwards, Leburger will feature in the final session of the day against Fede Mouriño - Marc Quílez (#29). Meanwhile, Stupaczuk - Sanz, runners-up at the last three tournaments (FIP Platinum Lyon, Rotterdam P2 and Germany P2), will face José Solano - Ramiro Pereyra, who have reached this stage after coming through qualifying.