Key Takeaways
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Manu Castaño and Enrique Goenaga defeated Coki Nieto and Jon Sanz, ranked No. 6 in the FIP standings.
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The match lasted over two hours, ending 7-6 (3), 6-7 (4), 6-4.
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Tapia and Coello advanced comfortably with a double 6-4 win.
Shock elimination in South Africa
The Pretoria Premier Padel P1 delivered its first major surprise as Manu Castaño and Enrique Goenaga eliminated Coki Nieto and Jon Sanz, the sixth-ranked pair in the FIP rankings. The duo, coached by Maxi Grabiel, struggled once again after their early exit in Málaga, bowing out in their opening match in South Africa.
Rising talents seize the moment
Castaño, considered one of the brightest young talents in padel, and Goenaga from Palma de Mallorca produced a solid performance throughout. They took the first set, saw Nieto and Sanz fight back to level the match, but responded decisively in the third to secure victory. The final score was 7-6 (3), 6-7 (4), 6-4 after more than two hours of intense play.
Frustration on court
The match also featured a striking moment of frustration from the Argentine coach, who criticized the fast court conditions. “You can’t play, they’re ruining padel, man… That’s the reality,” he exclaimed during the contest.
Tapia and Coello continue dominance
Meanwhile, Agus Tapia and Arturo Coello, champions of the last five tournaments, began their campaign with authority. They defeated the new pairing of Gonza Alfonso and Tino Libaak in under an hour, winning 6-4, 6-4. Despite the loss, Alfonso and Libaak impressed in their debut as a duo against the world’s top-ranked team.
Other notable results
Several matches in the round of 32 demanded maximum effort. Leal-Guerrero overcame Pol Hernández-Collado in three sets (6-3, 3-6, 6-3), while Alonso-Goñi staged a comeback against Reina-Font (5-7, 6-3, 7-6). Jofre-Bautista also endured a marathon, defeating Sánchez Blasco-Santigosa 7-6, 3-6, 7-6 after more than two and a half hours. In addition, Jiménez-Arroyo started their new partnership strongly, beating Fernández-Vilariño 6-3, 6-4.
