Riyadh Season P1: Round of 32, the favourites go through, but the board is already shaking

A day to put things back in order… and open a few loopholes

In Riyadh, the round of 32 served as the first real crash-test for the seeds. On the whole, the favourites were up to the task, sometimes with a few shocks, but the day also delivered its first warnings: three seeds left the tournament as soon as they entered the mix, and not just any seeds.

In the stands of the Padel Rush Arena, the atmosphere was that of a “grand rendez-vous”: Cristiano Ronaldo once again attended the matches, accompanied by David Villa and David Silva. A powerful image for a P1 that officially launches the season on the Premier Padel tour.

The big match-ups come and go, sometimes in a sweat

Coello / Tapia: a warning, then the forward march

The scoreline tells the whole story: Arturo Coello / Agustín Tapia dropped the first set before stepping on the gas pedal (3/6, 6/1, 6/2) against Dylan Guichard / Bastien Blanqué, who were drafted into the draw. In one set, the French held the diagonal and hurt on the first net holds; then, the n°1s tightened up the game, won the returning battle and imposed their tempo.

Chingotto / Galán: clean, uneventful entrance

For their part, Fede Chingotto / Ale Galán got off to an authoritatively good start against Gonzalo Rubio / Javi Ruiz (6/2, 6/2). A match with no grey areas: volume, discipline, and the ability to turn the slightest neutral zone ball into an “uncomfortable” point for the opponent.

Yanguas / Stupaczuk and Lebrón / Augsburger: reliability and efficiency

The Mike Yanguas / Franco Stupaczuk pair had to go through a tiebreak, but won without panicking (7/6(4), 6/3) against Pol Hernández / Guille Collado. The same logic applied to Juan Lebrón / Leo Augsburger, who were dispatchers against the Meléndez brothers (6/1, 6/2): high tempo, quick take the net, and few “free” points conceded.

The upsets: seeds down for the count

Valenzuela / Martínez topple Gutiérrez / Alfonso

It’s one of the most talked-about exits on paper: Javier Martínez / Ramiro Valenzuela eliminated seed 12 Sanyo Gutiérrez / Gonzalo Alfonso (6/3, 6/7(5), 6/3). A match that turned on consistency: when the exchanges got longer, the outsider pair held the structure better and was able to replay the “clean” point at the right moment, particularly in the final set.

Castaño / Jofre topple Leal / Sanz

Another earthquake: Manuel Castaño / Íñigo Jofre ousted the seeds 7, Javi Leal / Jon Sanz, after a tug-of-war in three sets (5/7, 7/5, 7/6(5)). Castaño (born in 2008) has already achieved a benchmark victory in a P1 draw, with his nerve, his ability to hold up at the back of the court and, above all, his ability to make the right moves in the hot moments of the third set.

Perino / Piotto eject seed 16

The third upset was “quieter”, but it counts: Denis T. Perino / Ignacio Piotto Albornoz eliminated David Gala / Pablo García Rodrigo (TS16) in straight sets (6/4, 6/4). A typical victory for a duo who read the match well: variations in height, hard-worked returns, and constant pressure on second balls.

What these upsets say about the start of the season

We’re still in the early stages, but these sixteenths confirm a trend that recurs with each new season: automatisms can’t be decreed. The new pairings (or “recomposed” pairs) may be physically ready, but the slightest hesitation as to who takes the volley to the middle, who covers the glass exits, who “locks” the chiquita will be paid for in cash.

Conversely, outsiders who are already well oiled, or simply very clear tactically, have a window of opportunity: serve correctly, aim for the right diagonals, slow down when necessary and accelerate on the right ball. In a two- or three-set format, that’s enough to topple a seed.

Round-of-16 highlights (men)

Ladies: Salazar / Alonso reassure, the top 4 wait their turn

In the ladies’ category, one of the symbols of the day was Alejandra Alonso. Withdrew a few days earlier in Marseille due to an ankle injury, she resumed in Riyadh alongside Alejandra Salazar with a clear victory (6/3, 6/1) against Caparrós / Bidahorria. The women’s draw is also set to experience a pivotal moment: the first four seeds (including several new pairs) are scheduled to enter the mix for the round of 16.

Wednesday, February 11: Round of 16 kicks off at noon in Riyadh

After the already hectic round of 16, the tournament strings together without any time-out: the round of 32 begins this Wednesday, February 11 at 12:00 (local time) at the Padel Rush Arena. With three seeds already out of the running, the draw has opened up slightly, and some of the outsiders will have a rare opportunity to confirm their credentials right away, before the favourites’ machine gets into full swing.

Key takeaway

• 13 seeds out of 16 make it through to the last sixteen: the hierarchy holds, but it’s not watertight.
• The first big falls: Leal/Sanz, Gutiérrez/Alfonso and Gala/García Rodrigo.
• Coello/Tapia drop a set, then get the ball rolling again: a classic signal for the start of a tournament.
• The scene is set: from the very first rounds, the average level of the board makes every “normal day” a dangerous one.

Consult the official sheets :

• Official FIP recap (Day 2)
• FIP tournament page (tables & results)
• Premier Padel tournament page

Also read on Actu Padel :

• Riyadh Season P1 2026: dates, formats, pairs and stakes