Key Takeaways
- Álvaro Montiel and Daniel Santigosa pulled off a major upset in the Rotterdam main draw by defeating Edu Alonso and Aimar Goñi 7-5, 6-3.
- Maxi Arce and Juan Tello edged out Pablo García Rodrigo and ‘Tolito’ Aguirre in a closely contested first-round match ending 7-6, 7-5.
- The final men’s qualifying round concluded earlier in the day, with pairs including Zapata-Naranjo and Fonteny-Moragues booking main-draw spots.
Stunning upset knocks out Goñi and Alonso in opening round
Action at the Rotterdam 2026 tournament moved rapidly from the final qualifying hurdles directly into the men’s main draw, producing an unexpected shock on day 1. Edu Alonso and newly minted Spanish international Aimar Goñi were eliminated in the opening round, stumbling against Álvaro Montiel and Daniel Santigosa.
Despite facing lower-ranked opponents whom they knew well, Alonso and Goñi never hit top gear. After dropping a tightly contested first set 7-5, their clarity waned in the second frame. Plagued by finishing errors, the favored duo fell 6-3, exiting the competition much earlier than anticipated.
Early main draw battles produce tight finishes
The remaining early first-round fixtures delivered fierce competition across the board. Maxi Arce and Juan Tello held off a stiff challenge from Pablo García Rodrigo and ‘Tolito’ Aguirre, prevailing in two tight sets, 7-6, 7-5.
Tino Libaak and Gonzalo G. Alfonso also booked their place in the next round by dispatching Alonso Rodríguez and Flavio Abbate 6-3, 7-5. Meanwhile, Pablo Lijó and ‘Xisco’ Gil secured a hard-earned victory over Fede Mouriño and Marc Quílez, progressing with a 7-5, 6-3 result.
| Winners | Losers | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Álvaro Montiel – Daniel Santigosa | Edu Alonso – Aimar Goñi | 7-5, 6-3 |
| Maxi Arce – Juan Tello | Pablo Gª Rodrigo – ‘Tolito’ Aguirre | 7-6, 7-5 |
| Tino Libaak – Gonzalo G. Alfonso | Alonso Rodríguez – Flavio Abbate | 6-3, 7-5 |
| Pablo Lijó – ‘Xisco’ Gil | Fede Mouriño – Marc Quílez | 7-5, 6-3 |
Qualifying round concludes with decisive clashes
Before the main-draw drama unfolded, the final qualifying round (Q3) finalized the lineup for the tournament. Timeo Fonteny and Nacho Moragues sealed their passage with a decisive 6-4, 6-1 win over Willy Slaryd and Thijs Roper. Manu Aragón and Albert Roglán joined them after Exequiel Mouriño and Noe Navarro were forced to retire through injury with the score at 6-3, 3-0.
The remaining qualifying slots were determined through gritty battles. Teo Zapata and Adrián Naranjo rallied back from a set down to eliminate Argentinians Octavio Álvarez and Miguel Lamperti 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 as their opponents struggled to sustain early intensity. In the final qualifying encounter, Mario Ortega and Adam Axelsson withstood a stern challenge from Pau Miñano and Ferrán Insa, taking the match 6-3, 7-6.
