Key Takeaways
- Tino Libaak and Gonza Alfonso defeated Javi Leal and Fran Guerrero 3-6, 7-6(2), 7-5 to eliminate the 7th seeds in Düsseldorf, repeating their victory from the previous week in Rotterdam.
- Íñigo Jofre and Juanlu Esbrí completed a three-set comeback win against Enrique Goenaga and Guille Collado to set up a round-of-16 clash with Juan Lebrón and Leo Augsburger.
- The tournament’s top seeds, including Tapia-Coello, Chingotto-Galán, and the premier women’s pairings, enter action on Thursday as the round of 16 gets underway.
Argentine duo overcome opening-set loss to secure another comeback win
For the second week running, Tino Libaak and Gonza Alfonso proved to be the ultimate stumbling block for Javi Leal and Fran Guerrero. After sending the Spanish pair packing in the round of 16 at the Rotterdam P2 with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 scoreline, the Argentine pairing delivered an encore performance in Germany, overcoming a sluggish start to secure a hard-fought 3-6, 7-6(2), 7-5 victory.
Leal and Guerrero, fresh off their recent title in Lyon, dictated the tempo early on and claimed the opening set 6-3. However, Libaak and Alfonso dug deep, forcing a second-set tiebreak that they dominated 7-2. The decider became another test of nerve, but the Argentine duo found the decisive breakthrough in the closing stages to clinch the final set 7-5.
The triumph knocks out the seventh seeds and underlines the fine form of Libaak and Alfonso, who pushed Agustín Tapia and Arturo Coello to three sets in Rotterdam after winning the opener. Alfonso’s strong performances also keep him firmly in discussions for Argentina’s upcoming World Cup squad.
Comeback heroics and straightforward wins shape the men’s round of 16
Íñigo Jofre and Juanlu Esbrí also had to navigate a three-set marathon against Enrique Goenaga and Guille Collado. After dropping the opener 4-6, Jofre and Esbrí rallied to take the second 6-3 and sealed the tiebreak in the decider 7-2. Their reward is a round-of-16 clash against third seeds Juan Lebrón and Leo Augsburger, who received an opening-round bye.
Elsewhere in the men’s draw, Clément Geens and Nacho Moragues advanced from qualifying with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Javi Barahona and Ignacio Piotto. José Solano and Ramiro Pereyra defeated wild cards Víctor Tur and Agustín Reca 6-1, 6-3, while Javi Martínez and Luis Hernández swept aside German duo Matthias Wunner and Johannes Lindmeyer 6-0, 6-3.
Women’s draw begins as top seeds prepare for Thursday debuts
The women’s competition got underway with Claudia Escacena and Noemí Aguilar battling past Baldi and Aima 6-4, 4-6, 6-1. The pair had already crossed paths with their opponents during the qualifying phase of the tournament.
Lorena Rufo and Victoria Iglesias enjoyed a smoother path, defeating Giorgia Marchetti and Lara Arruabarrena 6-2, 6-4. Marta Talaván and Sofía Saiz produced a dominant display to see off Lucía Sainz and Letizia Manquillo 6-2, 6-2, while Jessica Castelló and María Rodríguez cruised past Sandra Bellver and Ana Domínguez 6-2, 6-1.
The tournament enters top gear on Thursday as the leading contenders enter the fray. Tapia and Coello open their campaign against José Antonio Diestro and Marc Sintes, while defending champions Fede Chingotto and Ale Galán take on Javi Garrido and Juani De Pascual. Franco Stupaczuk and Jon Sanz face Martínez and Hernández, alongside the debuts of women’s heavyweights Gemma Triay, Delfi Brea, Paula Josemaría, Bea González, and Ari Sánchez.
Guerrero and Leal in Düsseldorf, ranking, and results
LLWWWWWLWW Guerrero and Leal have achieved a win-loss 28-11 record together in 2026. The last match they played was on the 7th of October capitulated to Alfonso (world no.27) and Libaak (world no.34) 6-3 6(2)-7 5-7 in the round of 16.
Guerrero and Leal in Düsseldorf, ranking, and results
LLWWWWWLWW Guerrero and Leal have achieved a win-loss 28-11 record together in 2026. The last match they played was on the 7th of October lost to Alfonso (world no.27) and Libaak (world no.34) 6-3 6(2)-7 5-7 in the round of 16.
