The Foro Italico once again hosted the second Major tournament of the 2024 Premier Padel circuit. For many, this Roman event is considered the best tournament on the circuit. Over the nine days of competition, more than 30,000 spectators attended, showcasing the growing popularity of padel worldwide.
Ale Galán and Fede Chingotto claimed their first Major title, while Ari Sánchez and Paula Josemaría not only avenged their 2023 defeat but also secured their second Major of the year, having won the title in Qatar this past March.
Men's Final
The sixth final between Coello/Tapia and Galán/Chingotto (with each pair having three victories before this match) turned out to be somewhat below the high standards both duos have previously showcased. Nonetheless, the match was filled with excitement and spectacular points throughout, requiring three sets to determine the winner. "Chingalan" proved to be stronger, triumphing 6-4, 1-6, 6-1, and breaking the tie in finals confrontations between the two best pairs of the moment.
Women's Final
The women's final turned out to be quite monotonous due to the significant imbalance between the two competing pairs. Ari Sanchez and Paula Josemaría completely overwhelmed the veterans Lúcia Sainz and Patty Llaguno, winning 6-0 and 6-1 in less than an hour. Despite the heavy defeat, Sainz and Llaguno can only be proud of their journey in the Roman tournament, where they eliminated Gemma Triay and Cláudia Fernandez, recent winners of the P1 in Chile and the P2 in Bordeaux.
Portuguese Representation in Rome
The national representation at this Italian Major was one of the largest ever in the main world circuit, with nine Portuguese players participating in Rome. In the qualifying stage, Afonso Fazendeiro, Miguel Deus, Henrique Barbosa, and Peu Araújo competed, with the first two securing a place in the main draw of the Roman event, joining Sofia Araújo, Ana Catarina Nogueira, Patrícia Ribeiro, Gustavo Nunes, and Nuno Deus, who had direct entry into the main draw.
Fazendeiro, Miguel Deus, Gustavo Nunes, and Patrícia Ribeiro were unable to pass the first round, while Nuno Deus exited Rome in the second round after losing to the future champions, Ale Galan and Fede Chingotto.
Sofia Araújo and Ana Catarina Nogueira were the national players who went the furthest in the competition, being eliminated in the round of 8.
Fim da Linha
The Italian Major means the line's title for various duplexes on the international circuit, with the main achievement being the parchment title between Sofia Araújo and Virgínia Riera. After the first year of working together with Portugal and Argentina we will decide to follow different paths.
Marta Ortega and Vero Virseda also decide to meet new projects, I am currently competing in Italy, in their last double tournament.
Carolina Orsi and Carolina Navarro, who will only compete in two tournaments, will also opt to follow different paths in the second half of the year.
In the male sector there are also some separations in some duplexes that are long before the ranking. Veterans Sanyo Gutierrez and Maxi Sanchez will realize that, at this moment in their careers, they have not grown to a new level and have ended a game that has lasted a short time.
Surprisingly, for example, are the separations of Alex Chozas and Lucho Capra, as well as Edu Alonso and Alex Arroyo.
New duplexes starting from P2 of Genoa
Italy will continue to be the stage of the Premier Padel circuit, with the creation of the P2 of Genoa which will serve as a "bath" for the new duplexes of the circuit. Assim, Sofia Araújo and Marta Ortega will take out this test in their version 2.0, although Virginia Riera will have, starting now, Carmen Goenaga as her role.
Vero Virseda will play alongside Alejandra Salazar, as Tamara Icardo recovers from a contract in Chile.
On the male side we are looking forward to the doubles Sanyo Gutierrez / Alex Arroyo, Lucho Capra / Maxi Sanchez and Edu Alonso / Alex Chozas who are starting for the second half of the time with the illusion of better results achieved at the moment.