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.

Unstoppable

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.

A flood of emotions

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:

Martin Schmuda

A competitive tennis player, Martin discovered the padel in 2015 in Alsace and appeared in a few tournaments in Paris. Today a journalist, he deals with current affairs padel while continuing its rise in the world of the little yellow ball!

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