Libaak-Alfonso Defeat Lebrón-Augsburger Again as Sintes-Zamora Keep Dreaming in Kuwait

A new chapter in the history of the Qatar Airways Premier Padel Tour was written on the Round of 16 day at the Kuwait Premier Padel Major Powered by BNK. Marc Sintes and ‘Coquito’ Zamora, aged 20 and 18 respectively, became the youngest and lowest-ranked team in history (#30) to reach the quarter-finals of a Major.

But that was not the only surprise of the day, as Tino Libaak - Gonza Alfonso (#12) once again defeated Juan Lebrón - Leo Augsburger (#3), just as they did at the Madrid P1, while Jairo Bautista - Lucas Bergamini (#10) claimed the biggest win by eliminating Coki Nieto - Mike Yanguas (#6).

Meanwhile, in the women’s draw, the top four seeds all made winning debuts in straight sets, showing that any of them could end up lifting the title in a season where as many as five teams already know what it takes to win a tournament: Gemma Triay - Delfi Brea (6), Bea González - Paula Josemaría (6), Ari Sánchez - Andrea Ustero (5), Martina Calvo - Claudia Fernández (2) and Tamara Icardo - Claudia Jensen (1).

Sintes - Zamora Keep Dreaming

The hugely promising young Spaniards, who are just 38 years old combined, produced an unforgettable victory on Wednesday. Reaching the round of 16 had already been their best-ever result in a tournament of this category, but today they broke new ground again by defeating Álex Ruiz - Javier García (#13).

Sintes and Coquito Zamora played as if they were accustomed to competing on this kind of stage every week, securing a superb 6-3, 7-5 victory in one hour and 29 minutes. The result guarantees them 360 FIP Ranking points, but they will be fighting for a valuable 720-point haul on Thursday against Maxi Arce - Juan Tello (#9), who have high hopes for this tournament as they look to get firmly back into contention for the Finals by reaching the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, the team set to represent Argentina at next week’s FIP World Cup, Libaak - Alfonso, once again defeated one of the world’s best teams, who had just finished runners-up at the Milano P1. Despite losing a tight opening set 6-4, Libaak - Alfonso kept their composure to respond with a 7-5 second set before dominating Leburger in the decider (6-1). They have now won both of their meetings with the world No. 3s and have reached the quarter-finals at four consecutive Tour events.

Bergamini - Bautista, meanwhile, recovered from an opening 1-6 set against the Madrid P1 runners-up, Nieto - Yanguas, to seal their place in the next round with back-to-back 6-4, 6-2 sets. It was a hugely important result for the team, particularly for Bautista, who has now thrown himself into the fight for the Finals after Leal, who currently occupies the final qualifying spot in the FIP Race, was eliminated alongside Fran Guerrero by Aimar Goñi - Eu Alonso (6-4, 6-4).

Elsewhere, the favourites delivered as expected. Agustín Tapia - Arturo Coello (#1) defeated Enrique Goenaga - Guillermo Collado (#24) 6-1, 6-2 to move another step closer to a title that would secure their position as world No. 1s for a fourth consecutive season, while Franco Stupaczuk - Jon Sanz (#4) and Paquito Navarro - Martín Di Nenno (#5) also did what was required without too much difficulty.

The Women's Favourites Deliver Again

Meanwhile, the Tour’s top four women’s teams made their debuts and also avoided any surprises to book their places in the quarter-finals.

Both Triay - Brea and Perlamita won their respective matches while conceding just one game, underlining just how much is at stake for them in this tournament. The world No. 1s defeated Marta Talaván - Sofía Saiz 6-0, 6-1 in 54 minutes, while González - Josemaría did likewise against Jana Montes - Marta Barrera (#15), winning 6-1, 6-0 in 49 minutes to record the quickest victory of the day.

The recently crowned Milano P1 champions, Sánchez - Ustero, produced a commanding 6-2, 6-1 victory over No. 10 seeds Verónica Virseda - Martina Fassio, while Calvo - Fernández had to work harder against the promising team of Raquel Eugenio - Jimena Velasco (#11), eventually defeating them 6-4, 7-6.

The biggest result of the day, however, belonged to Giulia Dal Pozzo - Nuria Rodríguez (#12), who knocked out Marina Guinart - Alejandra Alonso (#7) 6-7, 6-3, 6-2 in a match that had been circled in the calendar by all four players in their respective battles to qualify for the Finals, which will feature only the top 16 players in the FIP Race.

The victory provides a huge boost in the rankings for Dal Pozzo and Rodríguez. They are guaranteed to gain at least 180 points on Virseda, Guinart and Alonso, who were eliminated in the Round of 16, as well as 270 points on Osoro and Salazar, who were knocked out in the Round of 32. Those gains could be even greater if they reach the semi-finals.

Kuwait Gets Ready for the Quarter-Finals

Here is the quarter-final order of play for the penultimate Major of the season, with action getting underway on Thursday from 2.00 p.m. (GMT+3):

Start at 2.00 p.m.

Sánchez - Ustero (#3) vs Tamara Icardo - Claudia Jensen (#6)

Start at 2.00 pm

Sintes - Zamora (#30) vs Tello - Arce (#9)

Not before 4.00 p.m

Goñi - Alonso (#11) vs Stupaczuk - Sanz (#4)

Not before 4.00 p.m.

Lorena Rufo - Victoria Iglesias (#13) vs Josemaría - González (#2)

Followed by

Triay - Brea (#1) vs Rodríguez - Dal Pozzo (#12)