The ‘shot of the year’ that ignites the final
At the heart of the FIP World Cup Pairs final at The Arena Kuwait (Sunday, November 9, 2025), Agustín Tapia attempted – and pulled off – an exceptional shot, immediately propelled to the rank of ‘shot of the year’ by the community. The sequence was relayed by the FIP the same day, proof of the viral moment and the audacity of the world No. 1. A spectacular nod that summarizes Tapia’s style: pure creativity, surgical timing, and the ability to surprise at any moment.
Despite the brilliance, Chingotto-Galán claim the title
While the stroke of genius brought the house down, it wasn’t enough to turn the tide: Federico Chingotto & Alejandro Galán emerged victorious after a hard-fought final, concluded in three sets with the third set won 6-2. The Red Bull report confirms their world title and highlights Galán’s defensive solidity and Chingotto’s consistency in crunch time. An individual masterpiece… in a lost final: the contrast also explains why the action left such a strong impression.
A modern ‘clásico’: two pairs, a rivalry at the top
Since 2024, the duel Coello–Tapia vs Chingotto–Galán has become the recurring theme of major finals. They have met – and often re-matched – in all major events, with victories on both sides: for example, “Chingalán” took the lead in Brussels 2024, while Coello-Tapia regained the upper hand in other major stages in 2025. Circuit media speak of an “endless battle” as the confrontation repeats at the highest level.
What Tapia’s point tells us about today’s padel
Tapia’s viral move illustrates a strong trend: elite padel is no longer just power and consistency, it’s also creativity, variations, and instinct. Coello-Tapia push the limits of offense, while Chingotto-Galán counter with defensive reading and a return quality that breaks down the most aggressive plans: the balance between these styles explains the frequency of their finals and the appeal of the “clásico”. Even defeated that day, Tapia reminds us that a flash can change the energy of a match… and the imagination of a sport.
