Coello-Tapia, one year later: it's time for a rematch against the Chingalan

One year later, it will once again be Agustin Tapia and Arturo Coello versus Fede Chingotto and Ale Galan. At the BNL Italy Major Premier Padel, the world’s number one pair have secured their spot in Sunday’s final, after the last semifinal played on a scorching Central Court despite the late hour. Tapia and Coello’s win over Fran Guerrero and Javi Leal (6-7, 6-2, 6-2) sends them to their third final in Rome—every year since they began playing together—and gives them a major shot at revenge after last season’s loss to Chingalan, who were in top form at the time. Guerrero and Leal exit to a standing ovation, as the lowest-seeded team to reach a Major semifinal.

The night started tough for Agu and Arturo, with 49 minutes and a tiebreak to decide the first set. After their quarterfinal upset against Yanguas and Nieto, Guerrero and Leal came out swinging, using their power and capitalizing on multiple errors from both Coello and Tapia. The opener was tightly contested, with the Spanish duo missing a first set point at 5-4, but converting their second opportunity in the tiebreak. However, their level dropped noticeably in the second set. Coello and Tapia broke the deadlock in the fourth game and pulled away to close it 6-2, helped in part by a penultimate point settled through a crucial VAR review during a comeback attempt. The final set was controlled smoothly by the Argentine and the Spaniard, who now have a chance to add a second Major to their 2025 tally, after their triumph in Doha last March.

“We’re happy to get the chance to play a rematch against Fede and Ale,” said Coello and Tapia after the match. Tapia also addressed their slow start: “We had to wait a long time to get on court because the second women’s semifinal ran long, but I can only say how proud I am to play next to someone as strong as Arturo”.