The Number 1 heading for their debut: "Rome is special, here to win again"

The expert believes that padel is an individual sport, but one that must be played as a pair. Does this hold true for the duo dominating the global circuit? It seems so, judging by their preferences. Mr. Fantasy, Agustin Tapia, prefers indoor courts because there are fewer factors affecting the game (like sun, wind, etc.), while his partner Arturo Coello believes the duo performs better outdoors. The results support his view, as the last three Majors were played outdoors, and they won them all. As they await their debut on Wednesday, their tournament began at the Foro Italico in front of journalists on media day.

"In Rome," said Coello, "expectations are always high. This is my favorite tournament, so I am eager to do well and enjoy this magical place as much as possible. All Majors are significant, not just in terms of points and prize money, but also for confidence. Last year's victory gave us a lot, making us even stronger. We have prepared well for this tournament and are ready to go all the way."

"Here," added his Argentine partner, "I won my first title on the Premier Padel circuit, in a special place, in front of a crowd that loves padel and always supports us greatly. I feel the pressure of having to defend the 2023 victory, but this motivates me to enter the court with maximum determination from the first match. The numbers don't lie: they say we are number one, the pair to beat, the most consistent along with Galan and Chingotto. But this doesn't scare us; we try to take the responsibility positively and will give everything we have to win again."

The crowd dreams of witnessing another final between Coello/Tapia and Galan/Chingotto, a newly formed pair that has already managed to snatch three titles from them and beat them three times (in six encounters, five of which were finals). "Having found such opponents is positive," said Coello, "both for padel and for us. But it must be said that last year too, Stupaczuk and Di Nenno often gave us trouble. Knowing we always have to fight to win helps us stay motivated, work every day, and reinvent ourselves when necessary to remain number one."

"They haven't been playing together for long," added Tapia, "but it feels like they've been a pair forever. They are making things difficult for us; they have already beaten us more than once. It's a great rivalry, very positive for padel in general because it creates more interest. And it is a stimulus for us: we know that to win a title, we must beat them, and so far, the matches have always been great." As mentioned, the win count stands at three each. Rome is poised to write the seventh chapter.