The refused handshake between  Alejandro Galán  et  Juan Lebrón  at the end of their semi-final of the  Valence P1  This is not a simple isolated incident. It is part of a story that has now lasted for several years and continues to fuel one of the most significant rivalries in modern padel.

While the two Spaniards long dominated the world circuit together, their relationship now seems more deteriorated than ever.

 A separation that dates back well before 2024 

Officially, the separation of the Galán / Lebrón duo is announced for March 2024. But the first signs of a fracture date back much earlier.

During the 2023 season, Lebrón's repeated injuries, the emergence of Tapia and Coello at the top of world padel and several episodes of tension on the courts began to weaken their relationship.

Later, Galán even revealed that he had considered ending their partnership as early as the 2023 Paris Major. Improved results and several discussions between the two players ultimately led them to attempt one last season together in 2024.

 The Qatar Major, point of no return 

The real turning point comes during the  Qatar Major 2024 .

During their round of 16 match against Mike Yanguas and Javi Garrido, Juan Lebrón found himself at the center of a heated controversy after several altercations and behavior that created a huge amount of unease around the match.

For Galán, this sequence seems to be one too many.

A few days later, he officially announced the end of their association and even specified that his decision was not related to sporting results.

A sentence that speaks volumes about the depth of the conflict.

 A rivalry that grows with each season 

After their separation, the two players went their separate ways.

Galán quickly allied himself with  Federico Chingotto , with whom he rediscovered a winning dynamic. For his part, Lebrón pursued numerous projects before forming a formidable partnership with  Leo Augsburg .

The tension is palpable in every confrontation.

Even their reunion under the Spanish jersey during the World Championship ultimately failed to bring about a lasting calm.

On the contrary, statements from both sides have multiplied over the months. Galán publicly acknowledges that trust and respect have gradually deteriorated. Lebrón, for his part, repeatedly asserts that he does not share the same interpretation of events.

 Valencia, a new chapter 

The latest episode therefore took place at  Valence P1 .

During the semi-final won by Galán and Chingotto against Lebrón and Augsburger, several tense moments occurred. Two shots from Galán notably hit Leo Augsburger during the rallies, provoking Juan Lebrón's anger.

Verbal exchanges then took place between the two former partners before the situation culminated at the moment of the final bow, when Galán refused to shake Lebrón's hand.

A powerful image that quickly went viral on social media.

A tense end to the match in Valencia P1: Galán refuses to shake Lebrón's hand

 From legendary partners to permanent rivals 

Together, Galán and Lebrón won  33 tracks dominated the world rankings for three consecutive seasons and made history in modern padel.

Few pairs have won as much.

Few separations have left such a lasting mark.

Today, every encounter between the two Spaniards goes far beyond the realm of sport. Their glances, gestures, and reactions are scrutinized as much as the result itself.

What was once one of the finest associations in the history of padel has become one of the strongest rivalries on the circuit.

And in view of recent events in Valencia, this story seems far from having reached its final chapter.

Benjamin Dupouy

I discovered padel directly during a tournament, and frankly, I didn't really like it at first. But the second time, it was love at first sight, and since then, I haven't missed a single match. I'm even ready to stay up until 3am to watch a final of Premier Padel !

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