The favourites lived up to expectations on quarter-final day at the CUPRA Germany Premier Padel P2, both in the men’s and women’s draws. The top four seeds all came through their respective matches in straight sets and will meet on Saturday in what could be described as ‘perfect’ semi-finals based on the pairs’ rankings.

Stupaczuk - Sanz Redeem Their Paris Defeat

The No. 4 pair once again made a statement as they continue their bid to remain inside the Tour’s top four through to the end of the season. Their form has been on an upward trajectory in recent weeks, with back-to-back runner-up finishes at FIP Platinum Lyon and the Rotterdam P2, and on Saturday they will fight for a place in another final in Düsseldorf after defeating Paquito Navarro - Martín Di Nenno (#5), their closest challengers.

They secured a 6-3, 6-3 victory in one hour and 14 minutes against another top team that had already defeated them at the Paris Major, allowing them to begin the European swing as the tournament’s fourth seeds in Rotterdam P2. However, Stupa and Sanz have been in outstanding form in recent weeks, and that was reflected in a hugely impressive victory over Navarro - Di Nenno, who had only failed to reach the quarter-finals once in the eleven Premier Padel tournaments they have played together this season.

With this victory, Sanz will avoid dropping points this week after successfully defending the 180 points he earned at last season’s Milan P1. Stupa will need to reach the final to defend the 360 points he picked up by reaching the semi-finals of the Italian event in 2025, while Navarro and Di Nenno will each lose 90 points in the FIP Ranking following this defeat.

The Favourites Deliver

There were no surprises on German soil, despite teams such as Leburger, Chingalán and Ari Sánchez - Andrea Ustero, fresh from winning the Paris Major and Rotterdam P2, having to dig deep in the Round of 16 to secure their places in the quarter-finals with three-set victories.

One of the most intriguing quarter-finals featured Martina Calvo - Claudia Fernández (#4) against their respective former partners, Martita Ortega - Sofia Araújo, the tournament’s fifth seeds. It was the first time the four players had faced one another since they switched partners, and the result was emphatically in favour of Calvo - Fernández, who prevailed 6-0, 6-3 in one hour and nine minutes.

In the men’s draw, Maxi Sánchez reached his first quarter-final on Tour this year alongside Sanyo Gutiérrez, but could do little to prevent Ale Galán - Fede Chingotto (#2) from claiming victory. The second seeds produced an excellent performance to win in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1.

Two quarter-final match-ups were repeated from last week’s Rotterdam P2, with the same result on both. Agustín Tapia - Arturo Coello once again defeated by 6-2, 7-5 Tino Libaak - Gonza Alfonso (#15), who learnt just a few days earlier that they had been called up by Argentina for the FIP World Cup. Meanwhile, Lebrón - Augsburger did the same against fellow future World Cup player Maxi Arce and his partner Juan Tello, the tournament’s ninth seeds, winning 6-3, 6-3.

The Semi-Finals Await

Here is Saturday 10 October’s order of play at Castello Düsseldorf, where the German crowd will enjoy the men’s and women’s semi-finals:

Starting at 14:00 (CEST)

Calvo - Fernández (#4) vs González - Josemaría (#2)

Followed by

Tapia - Coello (#1) vs Lebrón - Augsburger (#3)

Not before 18:00 (CEST)

Gemma Triay - Delfi Brea (#1) vs Sánchez - Ustero (#3)

Followed by

Stupaczuk - Sanz (#4) vs Chingotto - Galán (#2)