Key Takeaways
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Vedanta Leopards defeated the Jaguars 18‑16 after a thrilling turnaround.
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Hubtown Panorama Panthers beat VB Realty Cheetahs 16‑9, the widest margin of the day.
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Fran Guerrero’s decisive set win was celebrated by the Mumbai crowd.
Leopards fight back against Jaguars
The opening clash of Season 4 at the SVP Stadium Dome in Mumbai showed how unpredictable the World Padel League format can be. The Jaguars struck first when Claudia Jensen and Alejandra Alonso overcame Marta Ortega and Verónica Virseda 7‑5 in the women’s match.
The Leopards responded in the men’s doubles, with the Deus brothers edging Enzo Jensen and Nacho Piotto 7‑6. Everything came down to the final set, where Javi Ruiz and Fran Guerrero dominated Pol Hernández and Guille Collado 6‑3. Guerrero, a fan favorite in Mumbai since Season 2, sealed the comeback. The Leopards triumphed 18‑16 overall, earning their first points of the campaign.
Panthers stun the Cheetahs
The second tie began with Jesús Moya and Lucho Capra giving the Cheetahs a 6‑4 win over Juan Tello and Edu Alonso in the men’s doubles. But momentum shifted dramatically in the women’s match, as Marta Caparrós and Marta Barrera overwhelmed Aranza Osoro and Julieta Bidahorria 6‑1, the most decisive set of the day.
The Panthers completed the turnaround in the final set. Enrique Goenaga and Rama Valenzuela defeated Coki Nieto and Jon Sanz 6‑2, a surprising result given the reputation of their opponents. The Panthers closed the tie 16‑9, marking the largest margin of victory on the opening day.
A format built for drama
The World Padel League’s scoring system, based on the total number of games won across three sets, ensures that no match is decided until the last point. Day one highlighted how quickly fortunes can change, with comebacks and surprises shaping the narrative from the very start of the season.
