One Major, many protagonists: what the 2026 edition leaves behind

Year after year, the BNL Italy Major continues to grow in prestige, participation and impact on the sport. Once again, Rome became the world capital of padel, delivering spectacular action, memorable stories and valuable insights into both the present and the future of the international circuit, as well as Italian padel. From the triumphs of the world No. 1 pairs to the exploits of the home players, passing through records, rivalries and a crowd worthy of the biggest occasions, here are ten key takeaways from the 2026 Major.

GIULIA DAL POZZO

It is impossible not to start with her, the true revelation of the 2026 BNL Italy Major. Before Rome, she had won just one Major match in her entire career. At the Foro Italico, she won four, defeating the world No. 7, No. 12 and No. 4 pairs in succession to give Italy its first-ever semi-finalist in one of the four most important tournaments in the world. In the quarter-finals against top-10 players Sofia Araujo and Claudia Fernandez, the statistics identified her as the MVP, producing more winners and fewer errors than anyone else on court. She combines remarkable courage in taking risks with an instinctive ability to choose exactly the right moment to do so. Alongside her tactical intelligence come seriousness, dedication and ambition. Great news for her, and for Italian padel, which badly needed a young player capable of leading the sport towards an elite future.

COELLO/TAPIA

They arrived in Rome having lost four consecutive matches to Ale Galan and Federico Chingotto. Yet rather than damaging their confidence, that losing streak seemed to do them a world of good. They dominated every opponent, winning all their matches in straight sets without ever producing their absolute best padel. The few difficulties they encountered were largely self-inflicted, both in the semi-finals and in the final. No pair, not even the very best version of the Chingalan, can make themselves appear as untouchable as Coello and Tapia at their peak. Before the Major they spent several days training together, something that rarely happens because they live in different places. If the results are this impressive, perhaps they should do it more often.

THE FORO'S TWO CENTRE COURTS

Up to and including Wednesday, the Pietrangeli served as the tournament’s main court, giving organisers time to prepare the Centrale after it had hosted a major music event the previous weekend. Yet the difference between the two venues was minimal in person and almost impossible to notice on television. The iconic court surrounded by statues performed magnificently, providing a perfect stage for the stars of the sport. Playing in one of the most beautiful sporting venues in the world has its advantages.

THE JENSEN SIBLINGS

Enzo and Claudia Jensen represent different countries. She chose Argentina, following the heritage of her parents, while he opted for Italy through his paternal grandmother, who was born in the province of Chieti before emigrating to South America. Beyond their shared bloodline, however, they also share immense talent and a natural ability to entertain. Enzo, born in 2006, reached the last 16 of a Major for the first time and continues to improve rapidly. As of this week, he is also the highest-ranked Italian player in the FIP rankings for the first time. Claudia, born in 2005, possesses a creativity enjoyed by very few players and always plays with the smile of someone who knows she has a gift others envy. Just ask world No. 1s Gemma Triay and Delfi Brea, who repeatedly fell into the traps created by her magical left hand during their quarter-final clash.

ABBATE AND MONTIEL

Recent history suggests that reaching the top of the men’s game is even harder than doing so in the women’s game. For Flavio Abbate and Alvaro Montiel Caruso, the road ahead may therefore be more complicated than the one facing Giulia Dal Pozzo. Yet they too left Rome with greater confidence and fresh ambitions, having finally begun to reap the rewards of a clear and steady progression, even on the Premier Padel circuit. Their priority now should be to compete regularly on the main Tour, even if that means sacrificing FIP events and winning fewer titles in the short term. To break through, players must face the very best on a consistent basis, and for the two Italians the time has come.

THE NEAR SELLOUT FOR THE FINALS

According to official figures released by the International Padel Federation, more than 9,000 spectators attended the finals of the 2026 BNL Italy Major on Centre Court. The eye test confirmed it. Never before had so many people attended the event, proof that padel continues to grow in popularity. This was far from guaranteed, given that the novelty factor has long disappeared and the men’s final featured the same matchup as in the previous two editions. It is an excellent foundation upon which to build the 2027 Major.

NURIA RODRIGUEZ

Because the tournament was played in Italy, and because Giulia Dal Pozzo became the breakout star of the pair, most of the attention naturally focused on the Italian. Yet Nuria Rodriguez deserves just as much recognition. After spending years chasing opportunities, she finally reached her first semi-final at this level and saw years of effort and sacrifice rewarded. One suspects that many opponents eventually grow tired of facing her, given her constant habit of motivating herself loudly, point after point, for hours on end. But having her as a partner must be a joy: energy, fighting spirit, passion and what appears to be an endless fuel tank.

GALAN VS LEBRON

In Rome, their head-to-head clash has become a certainty. In 2025 it produced a three-set battle. This year, Galan and Chingotto needed only two sets to defeat Juan Lebron and Leandro Augsburger. Yet the entertainment value remained intact. Their icy handshake, assuming it can even be described as a handshake, went viral on social media and confirmed that the relationship between the former rulers of the Tour remains extremely delicate. In a sport full of hugs, compliments and fair play, a little tension is no bad thing. In fact, it makes the spectacle even more compelling.

4 HOURS AND 12 MINUTES

The previous Premier Padel duration record stood at exactly four hours, set by Saiz and Lobo in a first-round match two years ago, also in Italy, in Milan. Ari Sanchez and Andrea Ustero not only surpassed it by 12 minutes, but did so in the semi-finals of a Major at the Foro Italico. It was an extraordinary match containing every ingredient needed to become legendary: momentum swings, endless rallies, spectacular winners followed by costly mistakes, drama and emotion from start to finish. Those who witnessed it will never forget it.

ROME CROWNS THE WORLD NO. 1 PAIRS

For the first time since the combined format was introduced in 2023, the BNL Italy Major crowned the world No. 1 pair in both draws: Arturo Coello and Agustin Tapia in the men’s competition, Gemma Triay and Delfi Brea in the women’s. For the champions, the significance of this result goes far beyond the prestige of winning a Major, the 2,000 ranking points or the richest prize money of the season. Both pairs had not lifted a trophy since Cancún two and a half months earlier and both were under increasing pressure from rivals threatening to overtake them in the rankings. Rome delivered a clear message: not yet. The natural order has been restored.