A bombshell in Taranto.  Youssef Hossam / Georges Wakim  created a huge sensation in the men's chart by eliminating the  seeded 1  Spanish  Pol Hernández / Guille Collado 6/4 4/6 7/5. A resounding performance against two members of the  world top 40 which is shaking things up in the upper part of the table.

A situation from which they could benefit  Bastien Blanqué / Dylan Guichard provided that they first overcome a huge Italian obstacle in  quarter-finals. 

Hossam / Wakim take down the favorites

This was certainly one of the most difficult results to predict at the time of the draw. On the one hand,  Pol Hernández (35th) / Guille Collado (36th) , the number 1 seed and the pair touted as the overwhelming favorites for these Mediterranean Games. On the other hand,  Georges Wakim (242nd minute) / Youssef Hossam (330th minute) , two Egyptian players much further down in the rankings.

The gap was huge on paper. It wasn't on the track.

Hossam and Wakim quickly showed they weren't just there to enjoy the occasion. At 4-4 in the first set, the Egyptians secured the decisive break before taking the set 6-4. The Spanish response came in the second set, which Hernández and Collado won 6-4.

Everything then came down to a tense third set. At 5-4, the Egyptians even had to  save a match point Instead of giving up, they completely turned the situation around and won the last three games of the match to conclude  6/4 4/6 7/5 after two hours of fighting .

A historic victory for Egypt and a scene of immense joy on the track at Parco della Salinella.

"An incredible victory for us and for our country," said Georges Wakim after the match, also explaining that the two Egyptians were used to watching their opponents play on television.

Outsiders, but not entirely unknown.

While the gap in the standings makes the achievement immense,  Hossam and Wakim are not unknown figures on the international circuit. .

Youssef Hossam's current ranking is quite misleading. At 28 years old, the Egyptian is currently ranked...  330th world rank , but has already reached the  132th place , his best career ranking.

Hossam was making his comeback in Taranto after several months away from the slopes due to a hip injury. This factor helps to put his current ranking into perspective.

Georges Wakim also has some international experience. Aged 31 and currently  242th in the world The Egyptian has reached his best career ranking this season, at the  223th place in the world .

And above all, the two men know each other very well.

Hossam and Wakim have already shared the track several times. In 2023, they notably had a great run at the  FIP Rise from Doha , reaching the final before losing to Aris Patiniotis / Facundo Dominguez. More recently, they also played together on Premier Padel, especially at  NewGiza P2 2025 where they had been granted a wild-card.

In other words, while beating Hernández / Collado remains a huge surprise, the Egyptian pair still possessed automatic reflexes and experience on the international circuit.

Part of the table completely revived

And this elimination could have significant consequences for the French.

Placed in the same half of the table,  Bastien Blanqué (186th) / Dylan Guichard (87th)  knew that a path in line with the hierarchy could lead them to Hernández / Collado in the semi-final.

This scenario has just disappeared.

After their controlled victory  6/2 6/2 against the Monegasques Nicolas Fedoroff / Noah Minioni The French are now in the quarter-finals.

But to call it a highway to the final would obviously be a gross exaggeration.

Because before looking any further, Blanqué/Guichard will have to get rid of  Flavio Abbate (60th) / Alvaro Montiel (68th) The Italian pair, seeded 3rd, will start with a significant advantage in the standings and will be playing at home.

The Italians, moreover, sent a very clear message for their entry into the competition by dominating  Fjoralb Curri / Kristian Naska 6/1 6/0 .

A real test therefore awaits the French pair.

A semi-final that would nonetheless take on a new dimension

However,  if Blanqué / Guichard manage to defeat the 3rd seed The landscape would become particularly interesting.

In the other quarter of this section of the draw, Hossam/Wakim will face the Italians.  Marco Cassetta (94th) / Simone Iacovino (166th) , seeded 6.

Again, be careful not to underestimate the Italians. Cassetta, in particular, is having a very strong 2026 season and has already won several titles on the FIP Tour.

But one thing is certain: neither Hossam / Wakim nor Cassetta / Iacovino present on paper the same obstacle as the Hernández / Collado pair, composed of two players established in the world's top 40.

Blanqué and Guichard now have a great card to play.

The equation therefore remains complex for the French. They will need to produce a major performance to eliminate Abbate/Montiel, respectively.  60th and 68th in the world .

But the Egyptian feat has undoubtedly changed the perspective.

Mediterranean Games 2026: How many medals can France hope for in padel?

Even before their quarter-final, Blanqué/Guichard now know that a possible victory against the Italians would no longer send them to challenge the two big Spanish favorites in the semi-final.

For this first appearance of padel as a medal-winning discipline at the Mediterranean Games, the opportunity is certainly a great one.

 Hossam and Wakim have broken down the main barrier in this part of the draw. Now it's up to the French to pull off their own feat and try to capitalize on this. .

Raphael Degironde

As a padel fan and player, I scan the padel scene: Beware, you are being watched!

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