Some tournaments follow the logic of the rankings. And then there are those where one absence changes everything. The NewGiza P2 in Egypt clearly falls into the latter category. After a two-week break on tour, Premier Padel resumes… without its number 1 players.
Arturo Coello and Agustín Tapia will not be attending. A seemingly simple piece of information, but with a huge impact: the tournament loses its benchmarks… and gains in uncertainty. Because without them, the field opens up. And when it does, everyone believes in it.
A golden opportunity for Galán and Chingotto
In this context, one pair immediately stands out as the big beneficiaries: Ale Galán and Fede Chingotto. With the number 1s absent, they have a golden opportunity to take the lead in the Race.
The calculation is simple: a final could be enough to go ahead. But on the court, nothing will be easy.
A trap match from the very first match
- Potential entry: Leal / Cardona, an explosive pair capable of making anyone jump.
- Quarterfinals: Di Nenno / Momo, a high-level tactics and physical test.
- Semifinals: Paquito / Guerrero or Coki / Jon, two very different but equally dangerous styles.
In other words, even without Tapia and Coello, the road to the final looks like a Major’s course. No shortcuts, no breathing space.
The other half of the picture: very different dynamics
On the other side, the landscape changes slightly. Stupa and Yanguas arrive as the second seeds, with a solid status and a context which may smile upon them. The chaqueño, in particular, has often demonstrated his ability to perform in this type of “open” tournament.
Their main test could come in the quarterfinals against Bergamini and Garrido, a pair capable of causing problems with their volume of game and consistency.
Lebrón and Augsburger: the “cleanest” route
On paper, Lebrón and Augsburger seem to have a slightly more accessible picture. Mind you, “accessible” doesn’t mean easy. But compared to the others, their route looks smoother right up to the final laps.
The main danger identified before the last four? Tello and Alonso, a pair capable of raising their game at key moments.
In this kind of configuration, one thing is clear: it‘ s often the most mentally stable pairs that go all the way.
A tournament without a boss = an unpredictable tournament
The absence of Tapia and Coello doesn’t just free up a place. It removes a landmark. A dominance. A form of implicit hierarchy.
Result:
- More pressure on the favourites.
- More hope for the outsiders.
- No more turning points in matches.
This is exactly the kind of tournament where a pair can change its season in a week.
Female panel: no absence, maximum voltage
Unlike the men’s draw, the women’s circuit arrives at NewGiza with all its stars. And that changes the dynamic completely: here, there are no upsets due to withdrawals, but maximum density from the very first rounds.
The quarterfinals already smell of gunpowder
- The number 1s could cross paths with Guinart / Virseda, a duo capable of causing real problems.
- Sofía / Claudia could face Marta / Martina, a generational clash full of pitfalls.
Other side:
- Paula / Bea could meet up with the Alejandras very early in the tournament.
- Ustero / Sánchez and Icardo / Jensen complete an ultra-dense zone.
Simply put, there will be no “warm-up” matches. The tournament kicks off with full intensity from the very first exchanges.
Conclusion: a P2 that can change everything
The NewGiza P2 is not “just” a return tournament. It’s a rare opportunity in a season: to play without the number 1s, in an open draw, with important points up for grabs.
For Galán and Chingotto, it’s an opportunity to attack the summit. For the others, it’s a chance to break the hierarchy.
And who do you see taking advantage of Tapia and Coello’s absence to make a big splash in Egypt?
