The semi-final defeat to Tapia and Coello may well have marked a turning point in the association.  Juan Lebrón / Franco Stupaczuk After a thunderous start (5/2 in the first set), the world number 3 collapsed, victims once again of their demons:  frustration, lack of communication and visible tensions .

On the Chatrier, the contrast was striking. Lebrón shone at the start of the match, multiplying heroic defenses and winning shots, but his attitude quickly changed: criticism of his partner at the slightest mistake, lack of encouragement, heavy silences on the bench. At 6/5 at the change of ends, a dispute exploded between the two. As a result, the dynamic collapsed, and Tapia / Coello, true to form, were able to take advantage of the gap to turn the situation around (7/5 6/2). The frustration culminated on match point, when Stupaczuk sent his rebound directly into the glass before leaving the court, dejected, while Lebrón went alone to the locker room, booed by the Parisian crowd.

Heavy background

This new episode is not isolated. Since their formation,  almost every tournament has been marked by a mix-up In Asunción, against Cardona / Augsburger, we had already seen the pair explode live. Lebrón, furious, shouted to Stupa: “I’m smart, I need you here!” before the duo collapsed and bowed abruptly.

In Valladolid, it happened again: while the pair had just won the first set,  Pozzoni himself was losing patience  and exploded in front of an uncontrollable Lebrón. "You're not well. It's very complicated." These words reflected an unusual weariness for a coach known for being calm. Stupa, for his part, had thrown away his cap and left the bench, a visible sign of growing discontent. Stupa, exasperated, even let out a "You're a clown, Juan."

Valladolid – Explosion on the bench between Lebrón and his coach: Pozzoni loses patience

A weakened relationship despite the results

Sportingly, the duo is not out of place: regular semi-finals, 4 finals this season, only 9 games conceded in 3 matches in Paris before falling to the number 1s... But  when the intensity rises against the big pairs, cohesion explodes Lebrón is an exceptionally talented player but seems unable to contain his frustration, which undermines Stupa's confidence and weakens the team in difficult moments.

Carlos Pozzoni, who was supposed to stabilize the relationship, seems overwhelmed. And Stupaczuk, usually diplomatic, increasingly lets his irritation show, whether through angry gestures or his silence.

Inevitable separation or strategic calculation?

So, is this Paris Major  one match too many  for the Lebrón–Stupa association? The question is more relevant than ever. On the one hand, their results remain respectable and the options for change are limited: from an accounting perspective, separating would perhaps be a mistake. But humanly speaking,  Each tournament brings its share of controversy  and wear becomes evident.

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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