On fast courts, Arturo Coello and Agustín Tapia seem to employ a perfectly defined game plan. While their winning smashes are often highlighted, their build-up play before the smash is also noteworthy.

Tapia frequently plays delicate, precise passes into difficult-to-attack areas. Often positioned wide, he deliberately slows the tempo, primarily aiming for a slightly floating ball. During this build-up phase, Coello is rarely exposed defensively.

As soon as the opponent leaves a ball slightly higher or shorter, the plan is immediately activated. Coello moves up the court to finish the point, either with a deep volley that definitively traps the opponents, or with a remate when conditions allow.

Gustavo Pratto: "They will have to pull off a hero shot."

During the change of ends, Gustavo Pratto emphasized one point above all: maintaining maximum concentration.

According to the coach of the world's number one players, during the Valladolid P2 quarter-final, Bautista and Jofre didn't seem capable of turning the game around by following a classic strategy. They needed to achieve what he calls a  "hero shot" In other words, an exceptional move capable of reversing the dynamic.

The message to Coello and Tapia was therefore simple: remain disciplined, do not give away free points and above all do not let yourself be surprised by an individual feat.

The opposing bench is looking to deprive Coello of his main weapon.

On the other side of the net, the instructions were very different.

Bautista and Jofre's staff asked their players to produce tighter, faster and lower lobs in order to prevent Arturo Coello from having time to position himself under the ball.

The objective was clear: to reduce as much as possible the number of smashes in remate by the Spanish giant, who is particularly formidable in fast playing conditions.

A one-sided first set

This tactical opposition was quickly reflected on the scoreboard.

Tapia consistently controlled the tempo of the exchanges while Coello punished every inaccurate ball.

At 4-1, the key point of the set perfectly illustrates this dominance. Under pressure, during the starpoint, Jofre attempts a remate which ends in…  By 5 and makes the mistake. A risky move that reveals the pressure exerted by the world's number one players, who regularly force their opponents to attempt exceptional shots to stay in the match.

The first set ultimately ended with a decisive score of  6/1 Coello and Tapia displayed complete control. More than Coello's power, it was the synergy between Tapia's build-up play and his partner's finishing ability that once again made the difference. The second set was a bit more balanced, ending 6-4.

Lebrón and Augsburger, the real test?

While the quarter-finals against Bautista and Jofre confirmed the effectiveness of Coello and Tapia's game plan on fast tracks, the real test could well come in the semi-finals.

Facing them is a team with a radically different profile:  Juan Lebrón and Leo Augsburger While Bautista and Jofre often struggled to keep pace with the world number ones, Lebrón and especially Augsburger constantly look to speed up the rallies. Their ability to finish points quickly, particularly thanks to the Argentine's powerful strokes, could significantly reduce the time Tapia has to set up his shots and build up rallies.

The question, therefore, is simple: will the perfectly executed plan against Bautista and Jofre be just as effective against a pair that also seeks to shorten rallies and take the net at the slightest opportunity? The answer could provide an initial glimpse into the balance of power on the fastest courts of the circuit.

Antoine Tricolet

I discovered the Padel I stumbled into Spain at a campsite. I was instantly hooked; passionate about padel, I follow international and regional news with the same excitement as the sport itself.

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