The semifinals of the Rotterdam P2 2026, held on October 3, resulted in technical draws, jeopardized the presence of the top-ranked players in the final, and added new milestones to the careers of Ari Sánchez, Franco Stupaczuk, and Jon Sanz.
The semifinals of the Rotterdam P2 2026, held on October 3, resulted in technical draws, jeopardized the presence of the top-ranked players in the final, and added new milestones to the careers of Ari Sánchez, Franco Stupaczuk, and Jon Sanz.
There has been no match on the tour that has become more exciting in recent times than the one between the current world number twos, Paulita Josemaría and Bea González, and the number fours, the young pair Martina Calvo and Claudia Fernández. Since the latter duo formed, both pairs have faced each other on three occasions, with a record of two victories – Pretoria P1 and London P1 – and one defeat – Madrid P1 – for Calvo and Fernández.
After today’s match, the difference has vanished.
Gaby Reca’s team stepped onto the court determined to assert their dominance, and they demonstrated this from the start with a service break right at the beginning of the match. However, Josemaría and González had other plans. With a strategy focused on exploiting the central spaces of the court, Claudio Gilardoni’s team responded with two breaks, in the fourth and sixth games, to take the first set 6-3.
With their foot on the accelerator, the second seeds closed the match in 1 hour and 47 minutes, but not before establishing a 4-1 lead, losing it, fighting for a 5-4, and, evoking the star point, sealing the second set 6-4.
With this victory, Josemaría and González secure their place in the final and are one step away from winning their seventh title of the season. It would also be their fourth in the P2 category, following those achieved in Valladolid, Asunción, Brussels, and New Giza.
Regarding the confrontation between both pairs, it amounts to four matches, with a tie in the score (2-2).
Final result: Josemaría / González (2) 6-3, 6-4 Fernández / Calvo (4)
In the second match of the morning, Agustin Tapia and Arturo Coello once again demonstrated why they are number one. In 1H33, they defeated Momo González and Lucas Campagnolo, the tournament’s eighth-seeded pair, 6-1, 3-6, 6-1. González and Campagnolo had caused an upset in the previous round by defeating the fourth-seeded Paquito Navarro and Martin Di Nenno in three sets over 2H49 of play.
The ‘Golden Boys’ went out determined to make a statement. A break at their first chance on the opponent’s serve allowed them to take the lead and play with the score in their favor. Momo and Campagnolo scarcely found any openings against the dominance of the top-ranked players who, controlling the net, decisively closed out the first set (6-1).
The reaction came in the second set. The Andalusian and the Brazilian raised their level, gained presence on the court, and, with consistency and aggressiveness, took the second set 6-3. The equality, however, lasted only briefly. In the decisive set, Tapia and Coello regained their best form, took control from the first game, and sealed the set 6-1.
With this victory, the ‘Golden Boys’ secured their place in the fifteenth final of the season.
Final result: Tapia / Coello (1) 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 González / Campagnollo (8)
After the Paris appointment, Andrea Ustero and Ari Sánchez arrived at the Dutch P2 eager to taste victory again. In the second women’s semifinal of the day, the Spanish duo eliminated the world number ones, Gemma Triay and Delfi Brea, in two sets (6-2 and 6-3) in 1H30.
The third-seeded pair started the first set by taking the lead on the scoreboard (3-0). With well-planned plays, solid padel, and impeccable coordination from start to finish, the Spanish players dismantled the Spanish-Argentine duo to claim the first set 6-2.
Not even the time spent on the benches could reverse the script. Triay and Brea found no answer against the strategy and lightness of play of Ari and Ustero, who imposed their pace until closing the second set 6-3.
With this victory, Ari Sánchez will compete tomorrow, October 4, in the 100th final of her career. A record that had already been reached by Gemma Triay and Alejandra Salazar, but with one difference: Ari achieves it before turning 30 years old.
Fair play also had its moment in the match. With the score at 0-0 in the fourth game of the first set, the VAR corrected a cross-court passing shot by Triay that had been called ‘out’. In the next play, Ari Sánchez left her volley in the net to compensate for the referee’s mistake. A gesture of sportsmanship that drew applause from both the opponents and the crowd.
Final result: Sánchez / Ustero (3) 6-2, 6-3 Triay / Delfi (1)
The last semifinal of the day was played by Franco Stupaczuk and Jon Sanz against Mike Yanguas and Coqui Nieto. It was an occasion marked by a special sentiment, as it represented a meeting between former teammates: while Franco Stupaczuk had previously shared the same side of the court with Mike Yanguas, Jon Sanz had done so with Coki Nieto.
The clash between the fifth and sixth seeds began with Stupa and Sanz setting the pace. Two consecutive breaks allowed them to go up 4-0 and take control of the first set with a commanding 6-0. Despite what the score might suggest, the games in the first set were long and fiercely contested. Nevertheless, Cristian Arias’s players managed the high-pressure moments better and were more successful in the crucial points.
The second set had a similar outcome. Although Juanjo Gutiérrez’s team raised their level, Franco and Jon were not intimidated and maintained the pace until closing the match 6-4 in 1 hour and 19 minutes.
After overcoming this round, Stupa and Sanz reach, for the first time since they formed a partnership, a final of a Premier Padel tournament. Likewise, today’s victory brings them closer to their goal of finishing among the top four pairs in the ranking.
Final result: Stupaczuk / Sanz (5) 6-2, 6-3 Yanguas / Nieto (6)
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