Milano P1 Day 3: Tello and Arce fall, Maxi Sánchez and Sanyo out

The third day at the Allianz Cloud in Milan cost two seeded men's pairs their places. Juan Tello and Maximiliano Arce, seeded ninth, and the veteran duo of Maximiliano Sánchez and Carlos Daniel "Sanyo" Gutiérrez both went out on Wednesday, 14 October, as the second half of the round of 32 was completed at the Oysho Milano Premier Padel P1. The favourites all got through, which leaves Thursday with a round of 16 full of big names in both draws.

Tello and Arce lose a deciding tie-break

The biggest upset came from Xisco Gil and Ramiro Valenzuela, who beat Tello and Arce 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(3). The Argentines controlled the opening set, but Gil and Valenzuela levelled the match and held their nerve in the deciding tie-break. Padel Spain reported that rushed decisions cost Tello and Arce in that tie-break.

It could also hurt their season. Only the top 16 pairs in the FIP Race qualify for the Premier Padel Finals in Barcelona (7-13 December). Padel Addict noted that Tello and Arce are uncomfortably close to the cut-off line. Eduardo Alonso and Aimar Goñi, who are also chasing a Barcelona spot, made the most of the day by beating Clément Geens and Dylan Guichard 7-5, 7-6.

Two days after Sánchez and Sanyo stood out on the opening day, their tournament ended against Javier Garcia and Alejandro Ruiz. The Spaniards needed three sets and won the decider 6-2. They now face Rotterdam and Düsseldorf finalists Franco Stupaczuk and Jon Sanz, who beat José Solano and Ramiro Pereyra 6-3, 6-2.

Galán–Lebrón semi-final still possible

Defending champions Alejandro Galán and Federico Chingotto started their title defence with a 6-1, 6-2 win over the Portuguese brothers Nuno and Miguel Deus. According to elneverazo, they arrived in Milan after two straight tournaments without reaching a final, including a semi-final loss to Stupaczuk and Sanz in Düsseldorf.

In the same half of the draw, Juan Lebrón and Leandro Augsburger beat Federico Mouriño and Marc Quílez 7-6, 6-1. Lebrón won Milan in 2022 and 2023 but has lost in the semi-finals here since then. The FIP highlighted the possibility of a Galán–Lebrón semi-final, a match-up that would bring back memories of their time as partners.

Top seeds Arturo Coello and Agustin Tapia have won three titles in a row in Paris, Rotterdam and Düsseldorf. They began with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Arnau Ayats and Emilio Sánchez Chamero.

Stupaczuk on Evolution: From Power Player to Complete Competitor

Icardo returns, Navarro withdraws

In the women's draw, Tamara Icardo returned after missing two tournaments with an injury. She and Claudia Jensen beat Amanda López and Martina Fassio 6-4, 6-1. Marta Ortega and Sofía Araujo beat Marta Barrera and Jana Montes 6-0, 6-2 and then went straight into the quarter-finals. Their next opponents, Marta Borrero and Teresa Navarro, had to withdraw because of an injury to Navarro.

Lorena Rufo and Victoria Iglesias beat Letizia Manquillo and Lucía Sainz 6-1, 3-6, 6-4. Verónica Virseda and Martina Fassio beat Águeda Pérez and Marta Caparrós 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. Jessica Castelló and Maria Eulalia Rodríguez beat Virginia Riera and Julieta Bidahorria 6-2, 6-4.

Thursday: round of 16 on Centre Court

Play starts at 9:30 CEST. Third seeds Ariana Sánchez and Andrea Ustero play Lucía Martínez and Araceli Martínez first, followed by top seeds Gemma Triay and Delfina Brea against Beatriz Caldera and Noa Cánovas. The rest of the Centre Court schedule is García/Ruiz v Stupaczuk/Sanz, Coello/Tapia v José Jiménez/Alejandro Arroyo, and Rufo/Iglesias v second seeds Paula Josemaría and Beatriz González (not before 18:00). After that come Augsburger/Lebrón v Alonso/Goñi and Gil/Valenzuela v Galán/Chingotto. On Court 1, Claudia Fernández and Martina Calvo, who won the Germany P2 title on Sunday, play Castelló and Rodríguez. In Spain, the round of 16 is free to watch on Premier Padel's official YouTube channel. Red Bull TV and Movistar Plus+ take over from the quarter-finals.