Italy Major – Paquito Navarro and Martín Di Nenno reunited in Rome: the return of an iconic duo

The BNL Italy Major 2026 is full of compelling stories, but none evokes as much emotion as the reunion between Paquito Navarro and Martin Di Nenno Four years after marking the debut of Premier Padel By winning the first tournament of the circuit in Doha, the Spaniard and the Argentinian find themselves with the ambition to become competitive again… but above all to rediscover the sensations that had made them strong.

Just days before their entry into the competition Foro Italico The two players expressed their enthusiasm at the prospect of reforming a pair that left a special mark on the recent history of padel.

Rome, a place full of memories for Paquito

If there is a symbolic place to celebrate this reunion, it is Rome. During the first edition of the Italian tournament, Navarro and Di Nenno reached the final in front of a crowd firmly on their side.

Despite the defeat against Juan Lebrón and Ale Galán, Paquito has an unforgettable memory of this Roman week, thanks in particular to the exceptional atmosphere of the Foro Italico and the famous chant "Paquito is on fire", which has since become one of his signatures with fans around the world.

For the Andalusian player, Rome remains to this day one of the most significant moments of his career.

An association that had marked the beginnings of Premier Padel

When Premier Padel was born in 2022, Navarro and Di Nenno immediately made history by winning the Qatar Major in Doha.

Since then, their paths have diverged. Paquito has partnered with numerous other players, while Di Nenno has tried various combinations at the top of the world rankings. But despite several missed opportunities to reunite, the idea has never completely disappeared.

Both players acknowledge that the door has always remained open to a possible return.

Today, this new adventure unfolds in a different context. The objectives are no longer the same as in 2022, but the desire to once again become a team capable of competing with the best pairs in the world remains strong.

Rediscovering pleasure above all

Beyond the results, it is above all the human aspect that stands out in the speeches of the two players.

Paquito Navarro's recent partnerships with Fran Guerrero and Martín Di Nenno's with Momo González have not yielded the expected results. This new collaboration therefore appears to be a way to rediscover the joy of playing and rekindle a partnership that had largely contributed to their past successes.

The two men also mentioned the desire to rediscover that "spark" that drove them when they worked together.

A more difficult challenge than in 2022

While the passion remains, the circuit landscape has changed dramatically. The overall level of padel worldwide continues to rise, and the early rounds are now much more competitive than they were a few years ago.

Aware of this evolution, Martín Di Nenno believes the competition has never been so fierce. For him, the goal now is to become a pair capable of consistently competing against the best teams on the circuit.

The challenge is ambitious, but the experience, talent and shared history of the two players could quickly make this reunion one of the major attractions of the season.

The Roman public as an additional asset

One thing is certain: at the Foro Italico, Navarro and Di Nenno will benefit from special support.

Paquito remains one of the most popular players on the circuit, and his connection with the Italian public has never wavered. In a 2026 edition that promises to be particularly competitive, the two former winners of the inaugural tournament will be among those who face off. Premier Padel Those who have been following the story hope that this energy from the stands can help them revive an adventure that many fans dreamed of seeing again.

In Rome, the return of Navarro and Di Nenno goes far beyond mere sporting matters. It is above all about rekindling a shared history, a renewed bond, and perhaps one last great adventure together.

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.