In Italy, it's always Lebron vs. Galan: more than a final

In Italy, it’s becoming a tradition: since their dramatic split at the beginning of 2024 – when Ale chose to break with Juan, tired of his outbursts – the two former champions (and former friends) have met four times. Saturday's semifinal at the BNL Italy Major will mark the fifth, once again being the most anticipated showdown for fans. Not only for what they represented together – over thirty titles in just over four years, including the inaugural Foro Italico Major – but also for the stormy end to their partnership, a rift that seems only to grow wider over time.

It wasn’t long ago that Galan reignited the controversy by throwing fuel on the fire rather than water. “Juan said it wasn’t the right time to split? I agree. I should’ve left him earlier,” said the Madrid native last month, intensifying a feud made more of jabs than rallies – their rivalry on court mostly limited to cold handshakes. Since their breakup, they’ve faced off four times, with Galan winning all four alongside Federico Chingotto: in Genoa, at Roland Garros, in Milan, and this year in Miami. Lebron has tried three different partners (Navarro, Di Nenno, Stupaczuk) and has won only a single set – the very first.

Since the separation, their careers have also gone in different directions. Galan has continued to win, claiming five titles in 2024 (including Rome) and another three in the first half of 2025 with Chingotto. Lebron, on the other hand, has won only twice – both in tournaments where the top two pairs were absent: in Finland with Di Nenno in 2024 and this year in Cancun with Stupa. Not enough to satisfy the hunger of "El Lobo," who had grown accustomed to feasting on the sport’s biggest stages.

At the Foro Italico, another big opportunity awaits him. For Lebron, Saturday’s match offers much more than just a spot in the final.