First tournament together, first title
Franco Stupaczuk and Jon Sanz have started their new partnership with a trophy. In Belgrade, the number two seeds defeated Coki Nieto and Mike Yanguas 6-3, 7-5 in Sunday’s FIP Gold final.
They leave Serbia with five wins from five matches without dropping a single set. In the quarter-finals, Stupa and Sanz defeated Francisco Jurado and Alejandro García 6-2, 6-2 before overcoming Pablo Lijó and Xisco Gil 7-6, 7-5 in the semi-finals. The official FIP Gold Belgrade page also confirms that the champions collect 150 FIP Ranking points.
For a pair playing their first tournament together, the title already provides an important first benchmark. It is also Stupaczuk’s second CUPRA FIP Tour title of 2026, following his victory at the FIP Platinum in Tirana.
After the final, the Argentine highlighted the positive feelings generated during their first week together and the understanding he has already developed with Sanz. The Spaniard was equally pleased with their first victory as a team.
A title that also secures the number four seeding
There was more at stake in Belgrade than the trophy and 150 ranking points. The result also had an important consequence for the coming Premier Padel events: Stupaczuk and Sanz retain the number four seeding for the Paris Major, which follows the Madrid P1.
That position can make a significant difference in a Premier Padel draw. By remaining among the top four seeds, Stupa and Sanz are protected from the other three highest-ranked pairs until at least the semi-finals.
The FIP Gold Belgrade was therefore more than a preparation tournament. The new partnership needed immediate results to protect its position within the reshuffled hierarchy at the top of the game. They responded with a title and an entire week without dropping a set.
A final between former partners
The final featured an unusual storyline. Until the beginning of August, Stupaczuk was partnering Yanguas, while Sanz was playing alongside Nieto. Actu Padel covered the confirmation of the Stupaczuk-Yanguas split before examining the two break-ups and the resulting new partnerships in its analysis ahead of the Madrid P1.
Coki Nieto’s reaction when his partnership with Sanz came to an end added another layer to their first meeting as opponents. In his official Instagram message on 10 August, translated by Actu Padel, the Madrid-born player explained that he had never enjoyed changing partners, particularly midway through a season, but respected the decision.
Three weeks later, all four players met in the Belgrade final with their new partners. Stupaczuk and Sanz won the first head-to-head battle 6-3, 7-5. One result cannot determine which of the two new projects will ultimately prove stronger, but it gives the Argentine-Spanish pair an early title and a symbolic advantage before returning to Premier Padel.
Madrid P1 will provide a much tougher test
The level of opposition will now rise considerably in Madrid. The Madrid P1 will mark the Premier Padel debut of the Stupaczuk-Sanz partnership. In its official preview of the draw, the FIP lists them as the number four seeds, immediately ahead of Nieto-Yanguas at number five. A potential quarter-final could see Stupa and Sanz face Momo González and Lucas Campagnolo.
The Belgrade title guarantees nothing in a P1 featuring the world’s leading pairs. It does, however, establish several encouraging facts: Stupaczuk and Sanz won during their first week together, did not drop a set and immediately secured an important objective ahead of Paris.
Madrid will offer a much clearer indication of how the partnership compares with the very best teams on the circuit. Even before making their Premier Padel debut together, however, Stupa and Sanz have already completed the first stage of their new project successfully.
