Once again, the steamroller Ale Galan / Juan Lebron was unstoppable. His victims today are Alejandro Ruiz and Momo Gonzalez, yet very convincing in the quarter-finals against Belasteguin and Coello.

As is often the case, the world No. 1s begin with a bang, with very high playing speed and percussion. The points are immediately spectacular, Ruiz and Gonzalez follow the rhythm and even get a break point on the service of Lebron: lost at the punto de oro. Lebron and Galan, they do not miss their first opportunity to break Ruiz and come off 3-1. Despite the presumed humidity and the relative freshness of this air-conditioned room, their smashes rise high, very high.

The heavy artillery remains in action and allows the world No. 1 to lead 5-2, while we have only been playing for 30 minutes. Opposite, the Andalusians have less success (and weight in the ball) when they hit: Ruiz once again gives up his service and the set, with a score of 6-2.

Mariano Amat's players are obviously determined not to drag on the track or lose energy in their quest for the title of “masters”. The proof, they scored twice as many points as their opponents in this set: 28 to 14!

Un padel dream… or nightmare

The game of the favorites is not only made of power, but also of speed, reflexes and breathtaking technique, combining spin, feints, supersonic attacks and acrobatic defenses. The whole panoply of a padel dream is here at work, with two players who seem to be demonstrating today. For the adversaries, it is rather a nightmare!

Without playing badly, the Malagueños simply do not have the weapons: either they suffer unstoppable attacks, or they end up making the mistake for lack of offensive solutions. And yet, the public is not stingy with support when they achieve a good point.

The games go by, quickly: after 46 minutes of play, there are already 6-2, 3-0. Quite the opposite of the previous women's semi-final, where each point lasted.

A disgusting release

So when Momo Gonzalez won his serve easily and came back 3-1, the Palau Sant Jordi stepped up their support and chanted “Mooommmoo”, in the hope that the match was prolonged. But opposite, Galan is ruthless and sends an unstoppable “chancletazo”, oddly followed by a challenge to the arbitration. Nothing helps, the score scrolls and it's 4-1.

On the first point of the next play, an insatiable Lebron calls for a video review which awards him a lob given for foul by Momo. The public finds him very greedy… but a point is a point and the one you let go can be enough to turn a match around. However, Gonzalez and Ruiz narrowly keep their commitment on punto de oro…

At 5-2, back to the wall, Mome and Ale can not help but concede two match points, while Lebron plays two shots behind his back and Galan one between the legs. Feats that trigger admiration and a few whistles as this display of relaxation is almost enough to sicken... at least his opponents. The first match point will be the good one, Lebron being helped by the tape of the net.

The match, concluded 6-2, 6-2, will have lasted one hour and five minutes and the balance of points remains two thirds against one third: 56 to 28…

After the quick quarter-final against Lima and Stupa, this new demonstration makes Lebron and Galan the big favorites for the final. They will be opposed to the winners of the half Di Nenno / Chingotto vs Navarro / Tello. A match to follow on Canal + 360 at the start of the evening, just after the women's half Salazar / Triay vs Ortega / Gonzalez, which starts at 17 p.m.

After 40 years of tennis, Jérôme falls into the pot of padel in 2018. Since then, he thinks about it every morning while shaving… but never shaves pala in hand! Journalist in Alsace, he has no other ambition than to share his passion with you, whether you speak French, Italian, Spanish or English.

On the same subject

Tags