Kuwait Major: Three Upsets Leave Coello and Tapia as Lone Favourites

Three upsets reshape the Kuwait Major semi-finals

The Kuwait Major quarter-finals at The Arena Kuwait on Thursday, 29 October, produced one of the most unusual men's line-ups of the Premier Padel season. Only one of the four pairs left in the draw comes from the expected top group: world number ones Arturo Coello and Agustin Tapia. The other three semi-final spots went to pairs who beat higher seeds on the day.

With second seeds Federico Chingotto and Alejandro Galán out before the tournament because of Galán's injury, and Juan Lebrón and Leandro Augsburger knocked out earlier in the week, the draw had already opened up. On Thursday the 4th and 5th seeds fell as well.

Libaak and Alfonso keep rolling

Valentino Libaak and Gonzalo Alfonso, seeded 12th, followed their win over Lebrón and Augsburger by beating fifth seeds Martín Di Nenno and Francisco Navarro 7-6(5), 6-1. The first set was the tight one and went to a tie-break; Spanish outlets report that the Argentine pair came back from 2-5 down in it. After that, Di Nenno and Navarro won just one game in the second set.

It is the first Major semi-final for Libaak and Alfonso as a pair, and they now get the hardest test in the draw.

Alonso and Goñi crush Stupaczuk and Sanz

The most one-sided result came from Eduardo Alonso and Aimar Goñi. The 11th seeds beat fourth seeds Franco Stupaczuk and Jon Sanz 6-1, 6-2 in under an hour, the quickest men's quarter-final of the day. Spanish outlet El Neverazo notes it is their second semi-final of the year as a pair and their first at Major level.

In the bottom half they will face Juan Tello and Maximiliano Arce Simo. The ninth seeds beat Sintes and Zamora 6-4, 6-2. That ended the run of the unseeded pair, who had knocked out the eighth seeds in the first round. Tello and Arce reached a Major semi-final together for the first time, a result that reports describe as crucial for their chances of qualifying for the season-ending Finals.

Coello and Tapia stay on course

The favourites had no such problems. Coello and Tapia beat Jairo Bautista and Lucas Bergamini 6-1, 6-4 in about an hour and are the only top-four seeds left in the men's draw. Their semi-final against Libaak and Alfonso is the last match of Friday's session at The Arena Kuwait.

Kuwait Major: Sánchez/Ustero and Triay/Brea Survive Semi-Final Marathons

Friday's men's semi-finals:

Eduardo Alonso / Aimar Goñi vs Juan Tello / Maximiliano Arce Simo
Arturo Coello / Agustin Tapia vs Valentino Libaak / Gonzalo Alfonso

Play starts at 14:00 local time with the first women's semi-final. The two men's semi-finals are scheduled second and fourth on centre court. The final is on Saturday, 31 October. Whatever happens, one of Alonso/Goñi or Tello/Arce will play in a Major final for the first time as a pair. For Coello and Tapia, a title in Kuwait would further strengthen their hold on the top of the rankings in the final weeks of the season.