The semi-final of  Madrid P1  across  Di Nenno / Augsburger  et  Stupaczuk / Lebrón  is marked by an incident that is already causing a lot of talk. In the third set, on a crucial point,  Martin Di Nenno  seems to commit an act which, upon rereading the images, appears clearly deliberate.

While  Franco Stupaczuk  was about to finish an unstoppable smash, the Argentinian slipped his hand into his pocket, pulled out a ball, and dropped it on the court. As a result, the point was interrupted, deemed a let, and replayed. At the time, no one reacted, but in slow motion, Di Nenno's movement leaves little room for doubt: the ball didn't fall by chance.

The previous Lebrón at the 2024 World Cup

This scenario is strongly reminiscent of the episode of  Juan Lebrón  during the final of the  2024 World Championships in Qatar The Spaniard, alongside Galán, had seen a ball fall from his pocket on a key point facing  Tapia / Chingotto . Again, the slow motion showed a suspicious gesture, as if he had deliberately provoked the let.

The images had rekindled the debate on sports ethics and confirmed the doubts of some about Lebrón's behavior in competition.

What are the risks for Di Nenno?

The parallel is disturbing: two major players accused of knowingly dropping a ball to replay an important point. In other sports, the penalty is severe: in tennis,  Hugo gaston  had been fined 77 euros for a similar act.

If the  FIP  If Di Nenno believes he acted deliberately, he could be sanctioned for unsportsmanlike behavior. A decision that will depend on the authorities' interpretation, but which already tarnishes his image. Until now spared from controversy, the Argentinian finds himself at the center of a controversy that risks marking the rest of his season.

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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