The Round of 32 at the BNL Italy Major Premier Padel 2026 produced a landmark moment for Italian padel, with the tournament guaranteeing that, for the first time in history, an Italian player will reach the quarter-finals of a Major. Fittingly, that milestone will be achieved on home soil at Rome's iconic Foro Italico.

Carolina Orsi and Giulia Dal Pozzo will battle for that place in the last eight after both came through their respective matches on Wednesday. Orsi, partnering Patty Llaguno, delivered a composed performance to defeat Aida Martinez and Camila Fassio 6-3, 6-1, while Dal Pozzo pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the tournament alongside Nuria Rodriguez, stunning seventh seeds Ale Salazar and Ale Alonso 6-3, 5-7, 6-2.

Their reward is a meeting loaded with significance. The two Italian internationals, who regularly represent their country together, will face each other for the first time in their professional careers knowing that the winner will become the first Italian woman ever to reach the quarter-finals of a Premier Padel Major.

Elsewhere in the women's draw, Marina Guinart and Veronica Virseda, fresh from their title-winning run at the FIP Platinum Albania, saw their campaign come to an end after a narrow 7-5, 7-6 defeat to Noa Canovas and Laia Rodriguez.

Thursday will see the arrival of the top four women's pairs in what promises to be one of the most eagerly anticipated days of the week in Rome. Defending champions Gemma Triay and Delfi Brea begin their title defence against Claudia Escacena and Patri Martinez as they look to retain the crown they lifted at the Foro Italico twelve months ago.

The world number ones also arrive under increasing pressure in the race at the top of the rankings. Triay and Brea have not lifted a trophy since the Cancun P2, while their closest challengers, Bea Gonzalez and Paula Josemaria, head to Rome in outstanding form. The second seeds have won five consecutive titles, a historic streak that has transformed the battle for the number one position and firmly established them as the form pair on tour.

Also making their tournament debuts on Thursday will be third seeds Ari Sanchez and Andrea Ustero, who face Aranzazu Osoro and Victoria Iglesias, while fourth seeds Sofia Araujo and Claudia Fernandez take on Bea Caldera and Carmen Goenaga.

In the men's draw, the leading contenders safely booked their places in the Round of 16, with all seeded pairs successfully navigating their opening matches.

The toughest test of the day belonged to Franco Stupaczuk and Mike Yanguas. The reigning FIP Platinum Albania champions were pushed to the limit by Manuel Castano and Xisco Gil before recovering to claim a hard-fought 5-7, 7-6, 6-3 victory.

Arturo Coello and Agustin Tapia enjoyed a far more comfortable afternoon, recording their first win of the week in Rome with a commanding 6-2, 6-2 triumph over Flavio Abbate and Alvaro Montiel.

Fede Chingotto and Ale Galan also progressed without major trouble, defeating Tino Libaak and Alex Chozas 6-1, 6-4, while Juan Lebron and Leo Augsburger overcame Manu Aragon and Albert Roglan 6-3, 6-4.

Among the day's closest contests, Coki Nieto and Jon Sanz were forced into a deciding set before edging past Luis Hernandez and Javi Martinez 6-1, 4-6, 7-5. Paquito Navarro and Martin Di Nenno also returned to action in convincing fashion, dispatching Alonso Rodriguez and Juani De Pascual 6-3, 6-1.

With every men's seed still standing and the world's top four women's pairs ready to begin their campaigns, the BNL Italy Major moves into a decisive stage on Thursday. Yet before the title race fully takes centre stage, Rome already has a moment of history guaranteed: an Italian player will walk onto the quarter-final stage of a Major for the very first time.