FIP Platinum Albania holds its two finals this Saturday in Tirana, after a fourth day rich in strong scenarios. In the ladies’ category, Alejandra Alonso celebrated her 20th birthday with a spectacular comeback with Alejandra Salazar. In the men’s category, David Gala and Enzo Jensen, teamed up for the first time, extended their crazy week to the final.
Alonso celebrates 20 years with a remontada
Before taking to the center court at Skanderbeg Square, Alejandra Alonso was treated to a birthday cake at the hotel. But the real gift was on the track: another FIP Platinum final with Alejandra Salazar, the second in two tournaments in this category in 2026.
For a long time, however, qualifying seemed a long shot. Facing Aranzazu Osoro and Victoria Iglesias, Salazar and Alonso fell behind 6/1 5/3, then 30-30 on their opponent’s serve. Two points from elimination, the top seeds managed to completely reverse the dynamic: returning in the second set, winning the tiebreak, then controlling the third set to finish 1/6 7/6 6/2.
This success has a special flavour for Alonso. In Marseille, the title had eluded them after the young player suffered an ankle injury. In Tirana, she returns to the final in a very different context, with the momentum of a match turned on its head.
In the final, Salazar and Alonso will meet Marina Guinart and Veronica Virseda. The second seeds put an end to Nuria Rodriguez and Giulia Dal Pozzo’s fine run after three sets: 4/6 6/3 6/0. The women’s final will open the evening at 6.30pm.
Gala/Jensen, the upset
In the men’s draw, David Gala and Enzo Jensen continue to make tournament history. The two players, born in 2006, are playing in their first tournament together and are already in the final of a FIP Platinum, the most important of their young careers.
The consistency of their performances is impressive. After eliminating Coki Nieto and Jon Sanz, then Alex Ruiz and Juanlu Esbri, Gala and Jensen confirmed their form in the semifinals against Martin Di Nenno and Jairo Bautista. A clear 6/2 6/4 victory over the seeds 4, with a padel game full of intensity, a constant presence at the net and a real maturity in managing hot streaks.
The defeat also marked the end of Di Nenno’s tournament with Bautista. Next week, in Rome, at the BNL Italy Major Premier Padel, the Argentine is due to meet up with Paquito Navarro. In Tirana, Gala/Jensen struck a blow by taking out an experienced pair before they could really get into their tempo.
Stupaczuk/Yanguas, the last hurdle to the title
In the final, Gala and Jensen will face top seeds Franco Stupaczuk and Mike Yanguas. The favorites clinched their place by overcoming Maxi Arce and Alex Arroyo in straight sets, 6/4 7/5, in a semifinal that went down to the wire.
The men’s duel scheduled for 8.30pm promises a real contrast. On one side, Stupaczuk and Yanguas, more settled, able to lock in the diagonals and keep the rally going until they get the short ball. On the other, Gala and Jensen, buoyed by momentum, will have to keep moving forward, take the net and play without tensing up in the biggest meeting of their careers.
The evening promises to be one of the highlights of this first Albanian edition. To keep up with the latest tables, schedules and scores, check out the official FIP Platinum Albania results and Actu Padel’s padel results page.
