After a start to the season marked by doubts, injuries and a premature elimination in Santiago, Agustín Tapia and Arturo Coello have proven to the Qatar Major that they were indeed back. Winners of the "Clásico" against Galán and Chingotto, the world number 1s sent a strong message: they were ready to reclaim their throne and remind everyone why they have dominated the circuit for two seasons.

A necessary reset

For Tapia, everything changed Riyadh, during the final where he injured his finger. A partial tear of a ligament in the fourth finger of his right hand temporarily kept him away from his best. After a frustrating elimination in P1 Santiago, he felt the need to reconnect with his roots. Direction Catamarca, his hometown, to recharge his batteries: “I felt like the Agustín I used to be again. My family never asks me to win, they love me for who I am, and that energy is inexplicable,” he says.

For its part, Arturo Coello, despite its base at Miami, feels the same need. After Santiago, he jumps on a plane heading Valladolid, to find his loved ones: “It’s where I feel protected, loved, supported… When you win everything is beautiful, but when you lose, the players can also feel alone.” A salutary return to their roots for the two champions, who take advantage of it to find their desire, their energy… and above all the hunger for competition.

A response on the ground

Returned to Doha with a mentality of “match by match”, Tapia and Coello showed solid performance against tough competition. Their victory against Cardona and Augsburger, who had eliminated them in Santiago, was a key moment: “I felt like I was losing from the warm-up that day… It was horrible,” admits Tapia. But in Doha, they passed that barrier with flying colors.

In the final, they beat Galán and Chingotto with a controlled match. A victory that is worth much more than the 2000 points of the Major : this is a confirmation that the reset worked, that the dynamics are reversed, and that the kings are back.

And now ?

This success in Doha could well boost their season. Tapia and Coello have proven that they know how to take tough knocks, challenge themselves, and come back even stronger. At only 23 and 25 years old, they are showing exceptional maturity, proof that their reign may only be beginning.

Benjamin Dupouy

I discovered padel directly during a tournament, and frankly, I didn't really like it at first. But the second time, it was love at first sight, and since then, I haven't missed a single match. I'm even ready to stay up until 3am to watch a final of Premier Padel !

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