The level rose this Friday in Toulouse with the quarter-finals of the World Padel Tour French Open 2023, who reserved us tantalizing posters for both ladies and gentlemen. Throughout the day, we offered you the opportunity to experience the Toulouse events as if you were there, with all the results, anecdotes and a behind-the-scenes view.

■ 21:30 a.m.- This long day is coming to an end. She will have made us live a great show and suspense, with in particular a splendid game that will be remembered by all the spectators who had the privilege of being at the Palais des Sports in Toulouse this Friday. It was won by Galan/Sanz against Tello/Ruiz. The good news is that Saturday may be another exciting day in store for us.

► 21:16 a.m.- Rami Moyano and Xisco Gil hold their service and create the surprise by winning 6/1 6/4, without really forcing against a “mago de San Luis” who had nothing magical today, accompanied by a Momo Gonzalez confused. This is a bad omen for the common future of this new pair, which is still looking for its bearings. Moyano / Gil vs Stupa Di Nenno, it will therefore be the poster for the second men's half, Saturday at the end of the day.

■ 21:12 a.m.- Moyano and Gil looked set to win 6/1 6/2 in this game, but a few mistakes on their part and a sudden surge of urge from Momo and Sanyo cost them their service game and the next. At 5/4, we believe that this almost non-match can turn: there is still a place in the semi-finals at stake…

■ 20:45 a.m.- Moyano and Gil are still in the lead, leading 3/0 after twice stealing serve from a ghostly Hispanic-Argentina pair.

■ 20:31 a.m.- Moyano and Gil win the first round 6/1, without forcing. It's up to them to be ready for the return of Sanyo and Momo, if the latter decide to engage and stop coasting. Will the new bullets entice them?

■ 20:28 a.m.- Trouble continues for Sanyo and Momo. The latter has just lost his service with a last smash hit without much conviction, which failed in the net. We feel the pair a little fatalistic, almost adrift, but that can change in the second set.

■ 20:20 a.m.- The start of the match was somewhat sluggish for the favourites: Sanyo Gutierrez and Momo Gonzalez, broken from the start by Ramiro Moyano and Gilberto Gil, had to wait almost a quarter of an hour to register their first game.

■ 20:05 a.m.- The last quarter-final of the day is about to begin: it pits Sanyo Gutierrez and Momo Gonzalez against Ramiro Moyano and Gilberto Gil, with a half against Stupa / Di Nenno at stake.

► 19:46 p.m.- Franco Stupaczuk and Martin Di Nenno won 6/3 6/3 against Javi Leal and Javi Belluati after a match where many winning smashes were unleashed on both sides. The match was more balanced than the scoreline shows, with the winners winning 100% of the punto de oro disputed against 0% for Leal / Belluati. The latter conceded four breaks but could only take the serve of their opponents once.

■ 19:08 a.m.- More balanced than expected, the match did not allow the Superpibes to make the hole until 4/3, even if they made a break, canceled by a break. On the other hand, at 4/3 in their favor, they put a boost, break away 5/3 and conclude with punto de oro the set 6/3 on the service of Stupa, while saving two break points.

■ 18:35 a.m.- After almost three hours of intense emotions and a stratospheric level of play, the following quarter-final opposes Stupaczuk / Di Nenno to Leal / Belluati. The latter, clearly not favorites, will have to surpass themselves if we want the game to reach the same heights.

► 18:21 a.m.- The tie-break which frees Galan and Sanz will have lasted almost 23 minutes, with 10 match points in all: the sixth was good for Galan and Sanz, after 2:47 of an epic fight. Tello and Ruiz deserved the victory just as much, they who had 4 match points.

In the semi-finals, Galan and Sanz will find the pair Navarro / Chingotto, who will arrive much fresher on the track this Saturday.

■ Tie-break.- Galan's 1st smash is slowed down by the boards and Ruiz can punish Sanz. It's then a chiquita from Galan who stays in the net, but Sanz brings his team back to 2/2 with two superb shots. Tello then strikes a winning passing, and offers a mini-break (3/2). The boards then help Ruiz to complete a volley and turn with an advantage (4/2). Advantage canceled by Galan, who against a bajada too tender of Tello. But on a high and long lob, Sanz only finds the net, but catches up on the next two shots (5/5), canceling the mini-break. This game is crazy! The first match point will be for Ruiz and Tello, after an error by Sanz. But Galan saves her from a par 3 which goes to the antipodes.

Alex Ruiz floored
Galan and Sanz freed

Decision of the arbitrator irrevocable

And in the process, an incisive volley from Sanz pushes Tello to the fault and offers a match point to the Spaniards. This time, it's Tello who saves her by pounding Galan to the body. The same Tello then does a smash on the tape that comes out of the track. Galan takes all the balls but it's Sanz who saves this 2nd match point from a volley in the corner. And a reflex from Galan gives them a second match point. But then again, Tello and Ruiz save her. The madness is (almost) at its peak in Toulouse, after 2h2 mano a mano. The score is 38/9: it's Tello who serves, then jumps to spike, makes a fake that hits the boards and deceives Sanz. 9rd match point! This time again, Jon Sanz saves her with courage…. 3/10, Sanz serve: the serve pushes Ruiz to a fault, but Ruiz claims the video, which proves him wrong. 10/11 for Galan and Sanz. The public whistles, but the referee's decision is irrevocable.

And once again, the match point is saved, this time by Tello. And Ruiz finds the grid at the next point and restores the advantage to his colors: 12/11. Tello is deceived by a window and the two teams turn at 12 everywhere. But Ruiz, inexplicably, puts his next comeback in the net. And FINALLY, after having pounded Tello, Galan concludes this incredible and unbreathable match with a vibora . 14/12: what an amazing tie break.

■ 17:58 a.m.- We are going to be entitled to a decisive game, while the level of this game reaches peaks.

■ 17:47 a.m.- Galan seems determined to finish on his serve and gets two match points at 40/30: but a nasty backhand volley from Sanz and a bandeja de Galan in the net later and everything has to be redone: at 4/5 it is Juan Tello who serves to return to 5/5, which he does without difficulty.

■ 17:42 a.m.- Alex Ruiz loses his service under the pressing of Galan and Sanz: the latter, dominated for a set and a half, have offered a completely different face since the end of the 2nd set. And it's Ruiz and Tello who are under pressure.

■ 17:28 a.m.- While the tension seems to have dropped a notch at the start of the 3rd set, an incredible point of length, intensity and combativeness features the four protagonists, and especially Ruiz and Galan. The latter ends up making the decision of a vibora crashing into the corner. A point that we hope to see again on the social networks of the World Padel Tour. Each team holds its serve (3/3) but the debates become electric, especially after a new smash from Galan which hits Ruiz in the body. Very clever who can predict the pair that will come out the winner of this meeting.

■ 17:17 a.m.- In the 3rd game of the 3rd set, on a high and floating ball, Sanz and Galan hesitate to hit. And it's Galan who goes there and surprises Alex Ruiz, whose jaw receives the full force of the bullet. The Andalusian falls to the ground and hits his racket in pain and/or frustration. The gesture is involuntary and Galan apologizes by raising his opponent.

■ 17:08 a.m.- Galan is still maneuvering from the first point of the game to claim a serve above the belt from Ruiz, following a return in the net from Sanz. The referee does not flinch, but Ruiz and Tello are feverish, under pressure from the opposition. Sanz hardly touches the ball anymore, but Galan is omnipresent and makes the decision, snatching the break and the 2nd set.

■ 17:02 a.m.- At the end of a game where Galan had clearly put in a boost, Tello manages with a furious smash to hold his service, saving in passing a set point on punto de oro. It's been 5/5 and the debates seem to be balanced, with a promising money time.

■ 16:55 a.m.- Tello and Ruiz respond quickly: as if freed by the loss of their service, they are unleashed defensively and push their opponents to a fault, resuming Galan's face-off.

■ 16:51 a.m.- What had to happen happens: a lucky start to the game for Sanz (a winning band), a volley error from Tello followed by a small winning smash from Galan and a new foul at the net from Tello allow the team nevertheless dominated to take the lead and the opposing service. 5/3 for Galan/Sanz.

■ 16:46 a.m.- Jon Sanz wins the 7th game on his serve, after saving two new break points, the 5th and 6th since the start of the game. Ale Galan was close to punishment by hitting a spike from beyond the service line, but Tello narrowly missed his counter. And Galan / Sanz stay ahead.

■ 16:37 a.m.- Galan once again saves his engagement on a punto de oro and keeps the lead in this second set (3/2). Previously, Sanz had won his serve to lead 2-1, despite two errors from Galan decidedly below his usual level.

Tello and Ruiz are in front in this match, quieter on their face-offs. But they do not manage to make the hole despite the opposing errors. If they do not materialize their domination, the risk for them is to be surprised.

A huge smash from Galan countered

■ 16:21 a.m.- After a bad start to the game, two volley errors from Galan and a band that deceived Sanz, the Spaniards had to save three new break points. But this time, they put Tello and Ruiz under pressure and win the decisive point.

■ 16:15 a.m.- Ladies and gentlemen alike, we are witnessing the most balanced quarter-final so far. After an early exchange of breaks in this first set, the intensity went up a notch between the four players on the track. A first punto de oro on Ruiz's serve allowed the Spanish-Argentinian pair to keep their serve in extremis and equalize 4/4. But in the next game, again on punto de oro, a huge smash from Galan was blocked by Tello and the following smash from Sanz, too low, allowed Ruiz to offer the break to his team by a par 4 reverse. In the next game, Tello and Ruiz did not tremble to conclude this first set 6/4 in 41 minutes.

■ 15:45 a.m.- Hostilities are open between Sanz / Galan and Tello / Ruiz, in front of an increasingly numerous public, which only asks to ignite.

■ 15:30 a.m.- It's time for the second men's quarter-final to begin: Ruiz / Tello and Galan / Sanz are on the track. About time, we invite you to discover HERE a new watch story yesterday, which is reminiscent of the incident in April caused by Alex Ruiz, who has just entered the central track.

■ 14:48 a.m.- Here is the composition of the hens who will compete with the aim of succeeding the pair Thierry Omeyer / Benjamin Tison, who won the celebrity tournament last year.

■ 14:45 a.m.- The Cupra All Star Padel Game started at the Petit Palais, with a fine line-up of showbiz personalities and famous athletes from football, handball, basketball, rugby, etc.

Visual-Cupra-All-Star

■ 13:50 p.m.- It's the break at the Palais des sports in Toulouse. On the center, the next quarter between Ruiz / Tello and Galan / Sanz will start at 15:30 p.m. But from 14:30 p.m., the two tracks of the small palace will host the celebrity tournament: the Cupra All Star Padel Games.

■ 13:48 a.m.- Barely out of the track, Gemma Triay and Marta Ortega willingly lent themselves to the game of questions and answers. Watch and listen right here:

► 13:36 a.m.- In 1h05, including the warm-up, Paquito and Federico complete their demonstration with the score of 6 / 2 6 / 2, after further entertaining the public during a last disconcerting game of ease and technical virtuosity. Navarro and Chingotto are the first to qualify for the men's semi-finals, where they will face the winning pair of the upcoming match between Ruiz/Tello and Galan/Sanz.

■ 13:28 a.m.- Does the “Paquigotto” tactic speak to you? Spectators at the Sports Palace get a live glimpse of it as they watch Paquito Navarro and Federico Chingotto recite their padel all in control against Mora and Barahona, deprived of solutions. At the time of writing, the “Chingorro” pair, in symbiosis, are leading 6/2 4/1 having won almost three points played out of four. The public appreciates, rewarding Paquito with an ovation after a series of very spectacular shots, concluded with a par 4.

■ 13:10 a.m.- Your coach of padel As you will know, it is useful to hold your breath just before hitting a ball, to concentrate all your energy and focus on the ball and the balance of the body. Right after the strike, you can exhale and relax for a moment, until the next strike. The images below of Ariana Sanchez (blocking) and Claudia Jensen (expiring) illustrate these two phases of play…

■ 12:50 a.m.- The posters for the women's semi-finals are now known: Icardo and Riera will challenge the big favorites Sanchez / Josemaria this Saturday, while an unprecedented clash between Brea / Gonzalez and Triay / Ortega.

► 12:45 a.m.- Delfi Brea and Bea Gonzalez qualified for the semi-finals by abandoning the Alayeto sisters, when the score was 6/1 3/0. We still do not know the reason for this abandonment of the binoculars.

■ 12:38 a.m.- It is rumored in the bays of the Palais des Sports in Toulouse that Canal+'s share price has just skyrocketed following an exclusive interview given to the padel by Franck Binisti, the founder of Padel Magazine !

■ 12:33 a.m.- The crowd gives a standing ovation to Paquito Navarro and Federico Chingotto, who are now up against Javier Mora and Javier Barahona, who created the only upset of the day yesterday by knocking out Maxi Sanchez and Lucho Capra 6/3 6/3. Navarro and Chingotto had dominated Rubio / Arroyo 6/2 6/4.

with their sights set on a possible qualification for the semi-finals.

► 12:18 a.m.- 51 mn for a first hooked set and only 24 minutes for the second: Gemma Triay and Marta Ortega were almost as impressive as Ariana Sanchez and Paula Josemaria late in the game, giving Merino and Nogueira no chance.

These last, beaten 6/4 6/0, still scored 13 points in this round, where Jensen and Virseda had grabbed only 4 miserable points.

■ 12:15 a.m.- On track 2, Delfi Brea and Bea Gonzalez crushed the Alayeto sisters in the first set, leaving them only one game and less than one point out of three, in just 30 minutes of play.

■ 12:12 a.m.- Just after their quick victory this morning, Ariana Sanchez and Paula Josemaria gave their feelings about their match, their level of play, the track, the city of Toulouse and the program for their day.

■ 12:03 a.m.- After their victory on Thursday and their quarter-final on Friday, Gemma Triay and Marta Ortega confided in the microphone of Padel Magazine about their new association.

■ 11:45 a.m.- As we said a little below, lobs are numerous in the women's game, often very precise and very high. How high do they play? The central track allows you to reach at least 10 meters before you risk hitting the scoreboard overlooking the field. On tracks 2 and 3, the height is lower and amputated in places by folded basketball boards.

► 11:34 a.m.- Shaken at the start of the match, Tamara Icardo and Virginia Riera finally enforced the hierarchy by imposing themselves 3/6 6/3 6/2 and 2h01 of play against Marta Talavan / Lorena Rufo, on track 2.

■ 11:22 a.m.- Double faults happen to the best: at 2/1 in his favor and 30A, Martita Ortega sees his second ball completely escape him, offering two break points to Merino and Nogueira, who do not hesitate to take advantage of the windfall to tie it at 2/2.

■ 11:11 a.m.- Interviewed by Padel Magazine, Sanyo Gutierrez and Momo Gonzalez talk HERE how they turned the tide on Thursday night when trailing 5/2 by Esbri/Alonso in the second set.

Four points in one set

■ 11:05 a.m.- While on lane 2, Riera and Icardo equalized at one set everywhere, Gemma Triay and Marta Ortega are warming up on the central lane against Melania Merino and Ana Catarina Nogueira. Will the No. 2 seed be as ruthless as the No. 1 seed?

■ 10:55 a.m.- A terrible figure alone sums up the 2nd set that the spectators of the Palais des Sports have just experienced: 4, like the number of points scored in the second set by Virseda and Jensen. Almost six times less than in the first set. At the same time, Paula and Ari scored 24!

► 10:46 a.m.- The Steamroller Sanchez / Josemaría has just finished its work in fourth gear, inflicting a 6/0 in the second set on Jensen / Virseda, in just over 20 minutes. On the match point, Claudia Jensen ran as fast as possible to bring back a drop shot from Ariana Sanchez: she succeeded, but brushed the net, carried away by her momentum, which did not escape the referee . A severe end to the match but consistent with the unchallenged domination imposed by the big favorites of the tournament. The latter feel good in Toulouse, as Paula Josemaria confides, who says “love the atmosphere that reigns here”.

■ 10:25 a.m.- The first set has just ended on the central track, 6/3 in favor of the world n°1. There were a whopping 5 breaks in this set in just 9 games. On lane 2, Icardo and Riera stole their serve once and lost theirs twice, losing 6/3 in that set. Will Talavan and Rufo create the surprise?

Lobs like it's raining

■ 10:10 a.m.- The lob is an essential shot in the padel, even more among women than among men, where the exchanges are longer. Witness an exchange with 30 shots hit on the central track, including 10 lobs! Last night in the Gutierrez/Gonzalez vs Esbri/Alonso game, most rallies were no more than ten strikes, often with one to two lobs at most.

■ 9:45 a.m.- The first service game of the meeting Sanchez / Paulamaria vs Virseda / Jensen surprises the spectators of the Sports Palace. As Paula Josemaria serves on the backhand side and the referee announces 30/15, the scoreboard shows 40/15. Even stranger, when Veronica Virseda commits the fault in this point, the four players change sides and the referee announces 1/0. You have to believe that the real score was 40/0 and that only the players were wide awake!

■ 9:30 a.m.- Let's go for the first two women's quarter-finals: Sanchez / Josemaria vs Virseda / Jensen on the central track and Icardo / Riera vs Talavan / Rufo on track 2.

The matches are to be followed on Canal + group channels and their Youtube channel.

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.

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