World's best pairs in pain at Bordeaux P2

Third day of the main draw in Bordeaux, and already two serious warnings for the tournament's top players. After Galan / Chingotto yesterday it was the turn of Coello / Tapia , world number 1, having to battle in three sets to reach the quarter-finals. The slow conditions seem to be reshuffling the cards...

Coello / Tapia pushed around, then dominating

Opposed to the new pair Sanyo Gutierrez / Gonzalo Alfonso , the favorites Arturo Coello et Agustín Tapia had a very complicated start to the match. Pushed around by the Sanyo's tactical intelligence, finding even in this first round those legs from back then! Recent winners of Valladolid concede the first leg 6/2 , visibly lacking bearings on a track that was slower than usual.

But as often, Arturo and Augustin find the resources to raise their level More consistent in the exchange, more patient in building points, they gradually reverse the dynamic to finally impose themselves 2/6 6/3 6/2 .

Two main factors influence the game

On the one hand, the playing conditions in Bordeaux are particularly slow : return to indoors, less heat than in Valladolid for example and therefore rallies that are longer. Fewer winning smashes, more play at the back of the court, and therefore a more physical, tactically more demanding padel .

On the other hand, this tournament intervenes at a time when players' bodies are beginning to be impacted , with a succession of tournaments and little rest for the circuit's top players. Some players have been training at very high intensity for several weeks. mental and physical fatigue can therefore easily settle in, especially when faced with less expected, but fresh and pressure-free pairs.

Time for exploits?

An observation which could be confirmed in the coming days and which promises us A tournament may be more open than expected. Even the best are not immune and each round could hold its share of surprises, Coello/Tapia get through here and will therefore be at the meeting of quarter-finals this Friday at the Meriadeck ice rink in Bordeaux.

Teo Vieau

He discovered padel in 2016 in Nantes and quickly became attached to the game, even climbing to 474th place in France. Commentator on Padel Mag TV, he covers the various tournaments on the French circuit as well as international tournaments organized in France!