Düsseldorf P2: Galán and Chingotto survive, Salazar wins 3h31 epic

The round of 16 at the CUPRA Germany Premier Padel P2 in Düsseldorf turned into a test of nerve for several of the big names. Alejandro Galán and Federico Chingotto, the defending champions, and Juan Lebrón and Leandro Augsburger both dropped the opening set before recovering, while Alejandra Salazar and Aranzazu Osoro needed 3 hours and 31 minutes to book their place in Friday's quarter-finals at Castello Düsseldorf.

Galán and Chingotto escape against Garrido and De Pascual

The title holders were in real trouble against Javier Garrido and De Pascual, who took the first set 6-4. Galán and Chingotto answered with a one-sided 6-1 second set, but the decider stayed tight until the twelfth game, when a break finally sealed a 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 win. Their quarter-final opponents are Carlos Daniel Gutiérrez and Maximiliano Sánchez Blasco, who beat lucky losers Montiel and Santigosa 6-2, 6-2 and ended the remarkable run of a pair that had lost in qualifying earlier in the week.

Lebrón and Augsburger followed a similar script against Iñigo Jofre and Juanlu Esbrí. After losing the first set 3-6, they turned the match around 6-3, 6-3. Padel Magazine highlighted Lebrón's encouraging behaviour towards his partner during the changeovers as a key to the comeback. Next up is a meeting with Maximiliano Arce Simo and Juan Tello, who beat Geens and Moragues 7-5, 6-3.

At the top of the draw there was no drama. Agustín Tapia and Arturo Coello needed less than an hour to beat Diestro and Sintes 6-2, 6-3. Franco Stupaczuk and Jon Sanz dispatched Martínez and Hernández 6-3, 6-3, and Martín Di Nenno and Francisco Navarro crushed Pol Hernández and Castaño 6-0, 6-3.

A marathon for Salazar and Osoro

The longest match of the women's draw went to Salazar and Osoro, who beat Araceli Martínez and Lucía Martínez 7-5, 6-7, 7-6 after 3 hours and 31 minutes. Salazar, a veteran of the women's game who was not included in Spain's eight-player squad for next month's FIP World Cup in Doha, now faces two players who were selected: Ariana Sánchez and Andrea Ustero.

Sánchez and Ustero, champions in Paris and Rotterdam, also had to dig deep. Velasco and Eugenio won the first set 6-4 before the favourites took control, winning 4-6, 6-3, 6-1. Marina Guinart and Alejandra Alonso came through another three-setter, 7-5, 5-7, 7-5 against Castelló and Rodríguez.

Lebron and Augsburger Stage Stunning Comeback to Reach Milan Premier Padel Final

Defending champions Delfina Brea and Gemma Triay opened their title defence with a 7-6, 6-1 win over Montes and Barrera. Paula Josemaría and Beatriz González beat Saiz and Talaván 6-4, 6-4, Marta Ortega and Sofía Araújo beat Rufo and Iglesias by the same score, and Claudia Fernández and Martina Calvo allowed qualifiers Aguilar and Escacena only two games, winning 6-2, 6-0. Claudia Jensen and Noa Cánovas beat Orsi and Llaguno 7-6, 6-1.

Friday's quarter-finals

According to the published order of play, Guinart and Alonso open the Centre Court against Josemaría and González at 10:00 local time, while Calvo and Fernández meet Ortega and Araújo on Court 2. The headline men's tie, Tapia and Coello against Gonzalo Alfonso and Valentino Libaak, is scheduled for no earlier than 11:30. The Argentine pair have already eliminated Leal and Guerrero this week and were confirmed in Argentina's World Cup squad on the same day.

Salazar and Osoro against Sánchez and Ustero follows from 13:00, Brea and Triay against Jensen and Cánovas from 16:00, and Galán and Chingotto against Gutiérrez and Sánchez Blasco from 18:00. Stupaczuk and Sanz close the Centre Court programme against Di Nenno and Navarro from 20:00.