Just two years ago, padel entered a zone of turbulence rarely experienced. March 19, 2023, the final of WPT Chile Open, disputed at San Carlos de Apoquindo Complex in Santiago, opposed Arturo Coello and Agustín Tapia à Juan Lebrón and Ale Galán. More than a duel at the top, this meeting would leave a lasting mark on the collective memory for a a matter of refereeing that has become historic.

A tense summit duel

Coello and Tapia, the "Golden Boys," had just begun their dream season. After winning the first two tournaments of the year, they faced the then world number one pair: Lebrón and Galán. More than 4 spectators had gathered in the stands to witness this clash... without imagining that they would witness a completely crazy scenario.

After a first set won 6/4 by Tapia and Coello and while they were leading 5 / 3, 30-30 In the second set, the point that would change everything arrived. Coello went up to the net and hit an unstoppable "chancletazo." The ball looked good, but no one seriously protested, not even Galán or Lebrón. The game seems to continue.

But the referee saw something else...

Honorio García, main referee, announces “30-40” for Galán and Lebrón, considering that the ball was a foul. A decision invisible to the public, the players and even the commentators, including Nacho Palencia who says live: “She is fair, but she is good.”

The next point is won by Tapia with a winning smash, and The Spanish-Argentine pair celebrate what they believe to be victoryThey throw down their rackets and embrace. Lebrón greets his opponents. Except… Honorio García takes the microphone and suddenly announces: “Game, set and match".

Galán returns… and everything falls apart

It was at this moment that Galán, who had left the track after Tapia's smash, comes back explaining that the match is not over, since he thought he had played the point at 30-40, not 40-30. The referee then announced 40A and asked for a punto de oro, claiming that the score had previously been 30/40 (and not 40/30). In short, a double break point for Lebrón / Galán instead of a match point.

A lunar decision. Coello, furious, calls the situation “madness,” Tapia grabs his head in both hands, and Manu Martín, their coach, hesitates to intervene. “You have a second to decide: do you want to make a scene or not?” he explains later. In the end, he chooses not to escalate the situation, for fear of further upsetting his players.

A stolen set... a match retaken

The game therefore resumes in a total confusionGalán and Lebrón took advantage of their rivals' mental disorganization to win the 40-40 point, level the score at 5-4, and then equalize. An exasperated Coello kicked a ball out of the stadium. The second set goes to waste for Tapia and Coello, despite a tense atmosphere and a Chilean public won over to their cause.

But the final round would provide one last twist. 5/4 for Lebrón / Galán, the latter obtain a match point on a decisive pointThe title is a breath away… But Coello smashes on Lebrón's foot: 5/5 tie. Tapia and Coello re-breakent in the process and finally conclude this match ultra-tense in an explosion of emotions.

A scar… but a trigger

Just after the match, Tapia points to his head and says to Coello: “It will make us stronger.” A prophecy that was confirmed: a few months later, Tapia and Coello took power over world padel, finishing the season at the top of the standings.

Galán, meanwhile, posted a photo with Lebrón, publicly apologizing for the tense finale. That day, everyone knew that Padel had just experienced a moment as absurd as it was founding.

This Chile Open 2023 final is not just a controversial memory, it's a symbol. That of a sport in full evolution, where every detail counts... and where even the most incredible errors are not enough to stop champions on a mission.

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 !

On the same subject

Tags