How Navarro and Guerrero turned the match around
On paper, the big match-up looked to be between Mike Yanguas and Franco Stupaczuk, who were better established in the tournament and announced as one of the most reliable pairs in the top flight. However, Paquito Navarro and Fran Guerrero (seeded 5) found the right formula after a dropped first set: 3/6, 6/3, 6/2.
The turning point was seen above all in the management of exchanges: less haste, more variation, and a clear desire to regain the net area. Navarro alternated control bandeja and sharper accelerations to avoid being locked in, while Guerrero accepted to defend longer, lob after lob, to get his duo back on the right footing.
On the right diagonal, the Spaniard also posed a constant problem: “deep” balls, few gratuitous faults, and a very clean reading of the glass exits. As the match progressed, Yanguas/Stupaczuk seemed to lose time in the build-up, and their promotions to the net were more often attacked on the first volley.
The signal sent by a brand-new pair
This success is all the more impressive given that Navarro/Guerrero have only been working together for a few weeks. Guerrero even strung together a crazy sequence: a few days earlier, he had won a FIP Platinum in Marseille with Javi Leal, before confirming his success at the highest level in Riyadh.
Their complementarity is already obvious. Navarro brings tempo, tactics and the ability to “close” a key moment. Guerrero, on the other hand, provides density: solid defense, clean throw-ins, and a no-nonsense game that secures the pair when the exchange stretches out. In a format where the slightest dip in performance is costly, it’s a combination that could prove decisive at the start of the season.
To remember:
- Navarro/Guerrero eliminate seed 3 in three sets (3/6, 6/3, 6/2).
- The turning point came with Guerrero’s return to the net, his variations (bandeja, lob) and his defensive rigor.
- Next challenge: a semifinal against Chingotto/Galán, winners over Garrido/Bergamini 6/1, 6/3.
Test semifinal against Chingotto/Galán
The reward is immediate: a semifinal against “Chingalán”, a benchmark on the circuit when it comes to putting the pressure on. For Navarro/Guerrero, the equation will be simple to identify, much more difficult to solve: maintain the quality of the lob so as not to offer easy smashes, keep the ball low on the first volleys and not suffer from the tempo imposed.
To follow the official results of the tournament, the FIP pages and the Premier Padel match center summarize the posters and scores of the Riyadh Season P1.
