The French Léa Godallier continues its fine run at FIP Silver Dão Lafões in Portugal. Associated for the first time with the Spanish Laura Lujan Rodriguez, the French player brilliantly won her quarter-final in two straight sets (6 / 1 6 / 2) against the number 3 seed, composed of Sandra Bellver Fructuoso et Maria Eulalia Rodriguez Abajo.

A particularly symbolic victory for Godallier, who faced Sandra Bellver, his partner… from the previous week. A somewhat unusual confrontation, but perfectly mastered by the new Franco-Spanish pair, in full development.

"We just won against the third seed in the tournament, who happens to be my ex-partner (Sandra Bellver) last week. It's been a long time since I won a match like that. Against a player I know by heart, Sandra, who is ranked a little higher than me (54th), even if the ranking doesn't always mean much," confided the Frenchwoman after the match.

FIP Silver Dão Lafões: Léa Godallier shines in the “tournament of exes” and reaches the semi-final in Portugal

Godallier also highlighted Sandra's partner, Laia Rodriguez Abajo, ranked 35th in the world, which makes the success even more significant. The recently formed pair are starting to find their bearings: "This is our first tournament, our third match together, and the connection is really great. We're still getting to know each other."

The tournament takes an even more unusual turn for the French player. If the pair wins Barbara Las Heras / Giorgia Marchetti, Godallier could meet another ex-partner in the semi-final, the Italian Marchetti, with whom she has played several tournaments in the past. A possible “Ex Tournament”, as she humorously calls it.

"It's a bit special, but really cool at the same time. I'm not putting too much pressure on myself. I just switched back to left, after playing on the right for five months. All of last year, I was on the right. In the end, on the left, I had only played for the French team," she explains.

After a complicated start to the season, particularly with Sandra Bellver, this victory comes boost confidence of a player who is gradually finding her bearings in the game. If she refuses to get carried away, Léa Godallier remains nonetheless optimistic for the continuation of her adventure in Portugal and a week before the FIP at home in Bandol...

Next match scheduled for Léa Godallier / Laura Lujan Rodriguez, around 16:30 p.m. to follow on the FIP channel.

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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