A historic return. Two of the greatest talents of the new generation of world padel offered Argentina the decisive point in this epic final. As in 2022 in Dubai, Argentina returns to the top of men's padel at the World Championships. This day of padel at Khalifa Tennis & Squash Complex from Doha saw theAlbiceleste (for his 12th men's title) lift the trophy in the men's final after a defeat in the women's final. It was already well after midnight in Qatar when Tino Libaak et Leo Augsburg (both barely 39 years old) won the decisive match 3/6 7/5 7/6 against Paquito Navarro et mike yanguas, after Agustin Tapia et Fede Chingotto have shattered the hopes of a return Juan Lebrón et Ale Galán.

The first of the three final matches was the least contested: thanks to an exceptional performance byArturo Coello – world number 1 – and Coki Nieto, who left only three games to the super kids Franco Stupaczuk et Martin Di Nenno (6/1 6/2 in 53 minutes).

FIP World Padel Championships Qatar 2024 – DAY 6 – FINALS – Saturday 2 November 2024, Doha

Then, the moment so awaited by padel fans around the world finally arrived: #ElRegreso, the viral hashtag, becomes reality, with the legendary pair Lebron-Galan back together. With 33 titles won together, they had decided to separate last March, their last match dating back to March 24 in Acapulco. Facing them, Agustin Tapia – the sheriff alongside Coello on the circuit Premier Padel with 10 titles in 2024 – and Fede Chingotto, who are trying to break this Spanish domination. The duel is spectacular: the first set ends in a tiebreak in favor of Argentina, but Lebron and Galan react quickly to push the match into the third and deciding set. Tapia and Chingotto take the lead with a break that Spain, wearing a black armband in tribute to the victims of the Valencia floods, tries to catch up with, without success. Argentina concludes with a score of 7/6 3/6 6/2 after two hours and three minutes, with a final point where Lebrón and Galán each try to steal the ball in the center.

Tino Libaak and Leo Augsburger: Young prodigies bring Argentina world championship title

The final of these World Championships Padel FIP therefore decides during the last meeting, opposing the NextGen argentine Libaak-Augsburger at Navarro-Yanguas. The Spanish took the lead by winning the first set 6/3, but the young Argentinians broke away 4/2 in the second set before suffering the comeback of Paquito and Mike. While the tiebreak seemed inevitable, Argentina concluded the set 7/5 thanks to a miraculous recovery from Libaak on the ground. In the third set, Spain made the break (4/3), but Tino et Leo don't let themselves get down and immediately get back together. At the start of the tenth game, Augsburgers feels physical discomfort, but despite the pain, the “Bombardero” continues to play until dominating the final tiebreak. Argentina had a date with history, and it did not miss this moment.

Credit: FIP

“We had an incredible week, we are speechless,” Libaak said. “We are a great team.” Augsburgers adds: "We all played together, with words, with motivation. I'm so happy." The on-field interview ends there, before the awards ceremony, with the entire Argentine team singing “Dale Campeon”.

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.

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