The Italian capital of fashion and luxury will host a semi-final Saturday truly worthy of its global reputation, featuring the four best women’s pairs and the top three men’s seeds all fighting for a spot in Sunday’s grand final. Joining them are one of the most exciting duos on the international scene: Martín Di Nenno and Leo Augsburger (#6), already title-winners this season (Madrid P1) and, in only their sixth tournament together, once again reaching the semi-finals.
They sealed their place in the final four in Friday’s last quarter-final slot, defeating Los Javis – García and Barahona – 6-3, 6-3. On Saturday, they will face Alejandro Galán and Federico Chingotto (#2) once again, a pair in exceptional form in Milan and chasing their fourth consecutive final. The No.2 seeds have yet to drop a set at the Allianz Cloud, booking their place with a solid 6-2, 6-4 win over Arce-Lijó in just over an hour.
On the other side of the draw stand Arturo Coello and Agustín Tapia (#1), also in imperious form. With 10 titles so far this season – and last year’s 14 still fresh in their minds – the world number ones dominated Paquito Navarro and Jon Sanz, closing the match 6-3, 6-2 in an hour. They will once again face Juan Lebrón and Franco Stupaczuk (#3), who desire to break through their semi-final wall – they haven’t reached a final since June in Valladolid. Today they battled past Momo González and Fran Guerrero 6-3, 7-5.
The women’s semi-finals will open proceedings at 2pm local time, with Ariana Sánchez–Paula Josemaría (#2) taking on Sofia Araújo–Andrea Ustero (#4). It’s a fourth consecutive semi-final for Ari and Paula, who arrive in Milan after pushing the world number ones, Gemma Triay and Delfi Brea, to three sets in the last two finals (Rotterdam and Düsseldorf). Today they showed once again that they are rediscovering the spark that once made them the world’s top-ranked pair, defeating Alejandra Salazar and Martina Calvo 6-4, 6-4. Their challenge now is to overcome Araújo and Ustero, who are contesting their fifth semi-final in the last six tournaments, having earned a solid win in Milan against Guinart–Virseda (6-4, 6-3).
On the other side of the women’s draw lies what promises to be the clash of the day: Gemma Triay–Delfi Brea (#1) against Bea González–Claudia Fernández (#3). With the head-to-head record standing at 4–2 in favour of Bea and Claudia, the world number ones remain unstoppable, producing a heroic comeback today against Marta Ortega and Tamara Icardo (1-6, 6-1, 6-3) as they both were struggling with health issues. Delfi and Gemma showed all their champion mentality, earning the crowd’s applause and the right to fight for a sixth consecutive final – having won five of them. Bea and Claudia, back in action after missing Rotterdam, are eager to return to a final after quarter-final exits at the Germany P2 and Paris Major, adding to their withdrawal in the Netherlands.
