Last weekend Eduardo Alonso and Juanlu Esbri created a sensation by winning the title World Padel Tour Alicante Open 500. We look back on the crazy week experienced by the two young 22-year-old players who won their first professional trophy together.
The campaign starts with a first surprise, as they eliminate the seeded 6, Ramiro Moyano and Xisco Gil in a big fight (3/6 – 6/3 – 6/4). This success logically gives them an open second round in the table, and they follow up perfectly by dismissing Teodoro Zapata and Anton Sans (6/1 – 6/4).
Together since the 2022 Cascais Open, the pair had only reached the quarter-final stage once before, in Reus this year. It was therefore not necessary to miss this new big meeting, especially since it is the first seed that awaited them: Lucas Campagnolo / Maxi Sanchez.
Despite the loss of the first set in the tie-break, Alonso and Esbri and do not let go and remain in the race thanks to a break lead. In the last act, their confidence explodes the ceilings and they outclass the South American team (6/7 – 6/3 – 6/1). The Spaniards make their way to the last four, with style!
Lucho Capra and Alex Arroyo, who felled Javi Leal and Juan Cruz Belluati in the previous round (7/6 – 6/4), can do nothing against this overexcited team which plays without complex, and clearly dominates the debates (6/3 – 6/2). Eduardo Alonso and Juanlu Esbri will play the most important match of their young career in the final!
TS5 in the final draw, Gonzalo Rubio and Javier Ruiz also had a big tournament, beating Sanz/Garrido (6/4 – 6/2) and Fernandez/Diestro (6/2 – 7/6) in quick succession. More experienced, the thirties ruled the roost in the first round against the young wolves, six games to two.
But a double break at the start of the second set is enough for the cadets to equalize at one set everywhere (6/4). The last act was going to be unbreathable with long and disputed points, and no team managing to make the difference. Up to four games anywhere.
Esbri ignites the center of Alicante with an incredible defense which pushes Rubio to the fault on a Punto de Oro. The youngsters exult with this break and the possibility of serving for the match afterwards. On a final Punto de Oro, Esbri deceives Ruiz with a high volley in the grid to confirm the victory.
The joy is as demonstrative as the emotion is strong, especially for Eduardo Alonso, in tears at the post-match microphone: “It's been an amazing week, I don't have the words. I dreamed all my life of something so big, it's huge. By the way, Happy Mother's Day, it's for you!"
Juanlu Esbri opened his heart to thank his teammate: “JI would first like to apologize to my partner: I had a bad start this year, I am not present enough for him on the pitch, so this victory I offer it to you” followed by a magnificent hug between the two 22-year-old players who perfectly concluded a dream week with their first trophy on the circuit, perhaps not the last.
Relive the best moments of the final just below: