Le  Valencia Premier Padel P1  offers us a new gala event this Saturday with a semi-final that is attracting everyone's attention:  Juan Lebrón and Leo Augsburger  face  Alejandro Galán and Federico Chingotto .

A poster that inevitably brings to mind that of... Italy Major , where Galán and Chingotto had prevailed in the semi-final with a score of  7 / 6 6 / 3 But this time, the context is slightly different.

Galán and Chingotto less serene than usual

Although the world's number 2 players are still present in the final four, their journey in Valencia has been anything but a smooth ride.

From the round of 32 onwards, they were pushed to their limits by  Curro Cabeza and Mariano González , finally defeated  6/4 6/7 6/2 .

The same scenario played out in the next round against  Álex Chozas and Tino Libaak Down a set and heavily challenged, Galán and Chingotto had to stage a remarkable comeback to secure the victory.  2/6 7/5 6/4 .

As the week progressed, some signs of tension also appeared on their bench. Nothing alarming, but noticeable enough to show that things weren't as smooth as during their best tournaments.

In the quarter-finals, however, they regained their confidence with a much more controlled 6-1, 6-1 victory against Tello/Arce. This decisive win allowed them to breathe a sigh of relief before this crucial match.

Lebrón and Augsburger arrive with momentum.

On the other side, the picture is quite different.

Since the start of the tournament,  Juan Lebrón and Leo Augsburger  They achieved a near-perfect run. They didn't drop a single set and displayed great consistency.

Their quarter-final against  Javi Leal and Fran Guerrero  confirmed their rise to power. A convincing victory.  6 / 4 6 / 4  facing a particularly dangerous pair.

Above all, the Spanish-Argentine pair seems to be gaining confidence with each match.

An opportunity to seize?

On paper, Galán and Chingotto remain favorites.

They have more experience playing together, better teamwork, and a wealth of experience in major tournaments. But the difficulties they've faced since the start of the week might create a small opening.

Because if Lebrón and Augsburger want to make a big splash this season, this is probably the perfect time.

Their level of play is excellent, they have already beaten them in Brussels, their confidence is high and they arrive with the desire to take revenge after their defeat in Rome.

But the big matches remain the ones at Galán and Chingotto.

However, one thing has remained constant for over a year: when the pressure rises,  Galán and Chingotto often find the resources to raise their level .

They have shown it again on several occasions this season. Even when they seem to be in difficulty, they manage to turn around compromised situations thanks to their mental strength and their ability to raise their intensity in decisive moments.

This is precisely what makes this semi-final so intriguing.

On one side, a pair that seems to be gaining momentum and is probably playing its best padel of the week. On the other, a team that hasn't shown its best form but is nevertheless continuing to move forward.

 So, can Lebrón and Augsburger take down Galán and Chingotto? 

The answer will come this Saturday on the central track in Valencia.

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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