It's a combination that no one expected: the 16th player in the world, Javi Garrido, will compete in P2 of Valladolid next to Diego Gil, ranked 115th in the FIP rankings. A decision imposed by circumstances, following the injury of Tino Libaak, his usual partner.

An unexpected… but close-knit duo

While this pairing may surprise on paper, it really comes into its own off the slopes. Javi and Diego are indeed great friends, even though they had never shared a tournament together on the circuit before Premier Padel.

Despite their friendship, such an association remains rare at this level, with the majority of players preferring a close ranking partner for maintain a good ranking among the top seedsThis choice makes Garrido lose four places in the hierarchy of pairs: he thus goes from TS10 to TS14. A fall that has little concrete impact on the draw, only the 8 first seeds benefiting from protection at the entrance to the tournament in this P2 category.

Garrido / Di Nenno in doubt after their defeat in Santiago
Credit Premier Padel

An administrative constraint that is the subject of debate

Garrido's situation highlights a recent rule put in place by the FIP: registrations must now be finalized two weeks before the tournamentA deadline that aims to structure the schedule, but which can have severe consequences in the event of unforeseen events, such as an injury.

Registered with Tino Libaak before the Rome Major, Garrido found himself in a bind when his teammate was injured just a week before Valladolid. The regulations then prevented him from re-register with another player, an inflexible administrative decision despite the situation.

A great challenge for Diego Gil

For Diego Gil, accustomed to the FIP Tour with a few appearances in qualifying or first rounds on the main circuit, this opportunity represents a considerable leap in exposure and experiencePlaying alongside a top 20 player in the world is a unique opportunity to show yourself.

It remains to be seen what this impromptu pair will be able to accomplish on the slopes of Valladolid. But one thing is certain: the friendship and complicity between the two Spaniards could well compensate for their lack of automatisms.

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