First big sensation Riyadh P1, with the elimination of Valentino Libaak et Leo Augsburg, in the first round of previa. The Argentines were taken out by the new pair Mario Huete et Aitor Garcia !

Tino Libaak and Leo Augsburger were undoubtedly the players most impacted by the new FIP ranking system. While they were in the Top 25 worldwide after the 2023 season, they were propelled to the 115 and 118th place of the new ranking. Therefore, the young hopefuls of Argentine padel were forced to play the qualifications of this first tournament of the year… without being seeded !

Facing them, a brand new pair formed by Mario Huete and Aitor Garcia. An unfavorable draw for the two Spaniards, seeded 6. Suffice it to say that no team would have liked to play the Libaak/Augsburger pair in the first round of qualifying!

Moreover, in this meeting, the first set is won by the Argentinians, 6/3. However, the match is balanced. Mario Huete and Aitor Garcia even took the second set and pushed their opponents to the ropes.

In the end, it was the Huete/Garcia pair that won at the end. Victory 3/6 7/5 6/4 and a place in the second previa round for the 6th seed. Mario and Aitor will meet, for their second match, Clement Geens et Frame Cassetta !

For Tino Libaak and Leo Augsburger, we suspect that it is of great disappointment. While we thought back to the top, after a positive end to the season in 2023, we cannot say that the Argentine pair are starting this new season well. Despite everything, this is the first tournament and it takes time for the automatisms to return. Without a doubt, that this defeat will serve Tino and Leo to come back fitter than ever.

That’s good because we’ll see them next week… in Qatar… in Preview.

Gwenaelle Souyri

It was her brother who one day told her to accompany him to a padel court, since then, Gwenaëlle has never left the court. Except when it comes to going to watch the retransmission of Padel Magazine, World Padel Tour… or Premier Padel…or the French Championships. In short, she is a fan of this sport.