Results from Wednesday, January 28, 2026: all scores
Morning session
- Rafa Nadal Academy Team by COX (Ruiz / Stupaczuk) vs ElevenEleven (Garrido / Libaak): 6–7, 3–6
- KRÜ Padel by Taktika (Araújo / Jensen) vs ElevenEleven (Josemaría / Alonso): 6–3, 3–6, 9–11
- Rafa Nadal Academy Team by COX (Ortega / Triay) vs RL9 Padel Team (Sánchez / Ustero): 2–6, 3–6
GENERALI Arena: Next Gen
- ADvantage Padel Team (Castaño / Jiménez) vs Team BELLA Puerto Rico (Rubini / Goñi): 3–6, 5–7
- Hexagon Team (Hernández / Mariano González) vs RL9 Padel Team (García / Santigosa): 7–5, 1–6, 10–7
Afternoon session
- KRÜ Padel by Taktika (Chingotto / Momo González) vs X Padel Team (Yanguas / Leal): 6–1, 6–1
- ADvantage Padel Team (Brea / Martina Calvo) vs Hexagon Team (Salazar / Goenaga): 6–3, 6–3
- ADvantage Padel Team (Di Nenno / Tello) vs RL9 Padel Team (Tapia / Jon Sanz): 6–3, 6–2
An “off-season” restart that already carries real weight in Madrid
The Hexagon Cup is far from being a simple exhibition event tucked away on the calendar. From the very first rallies at the Caja Mágica, the 2026 edition confirms a trend already visible last year: the intensity is genuine, and the collective pressure turns every match into a full-scale, high-level test.
Unlike a traditional tournament, players are not only defending their pair or their individual ranking. They are playing for a franchise, a bench, a broader project. This added dimension changes how matches are read, especially in key moments: a tie-break, a golden point or a conceded break immediately takes on strategic importance.
For those looking to fully understand the competition format, the teams involved and the specific rules, our reference article is available here: Hexagon Cup 2026 launch: everything you need to know ahead of the opening in Madrid.
A format that rewards game management, not just talent
The strength of the Hexagon Cup is built on a simple principle: the final score does not tell the whole story. What truly matters are the points accumulated by the team, sometimes far more than a comfortable win.
In this context, managing difficult phases becomes crucial. A pair that limits the damage, snatches a super tie-break or secures a point in the Next Gen category can tip the overall balance of an entire day. This format forces players to think differently, and at times to play more pragmatically than spectacularly.
The opening day also brought a modern padel classic back into focus: the golden point. In such a short competition, this type of moment becomes a true indicator of composure and on-court leadership.
A dynamic already taking shape for what comes next
Without drawing definitive conclusions after just one day, certain trends are already clearly emerging. Teams capable of winning tight matches and remaining solid when the scenario turns against them gain a structural advantage in this format.
Conversely, franchises that let “available” points slip away already know they will have to react quickly. The Hexagon Cup leaves very little room for recovery: every session weighs heavily on the standings, and the margin for error shrinks rapidly.
The rest of the competition will reveal which teams can turn this opening day into a genuine springboard… and which will need to quickly rethink their collective strategy.
