It was a day full of surprises at the Asunción Premier Padel P2. World number ones Agustín Tapia and Arturo Coello were knocked out in the quarterfinals by the tournament’s breakout pair: José Antonio García Diestro and Juanlu Esbrí. The Spanish duo triumphed in a thrilling match, winning 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(1), pulling off one of the most remarkable feats of the season.

Tapia and Coello Out at Their Peak

Tapia and Coello came in as strong favorites for the title, having already won the tournaments in Doha and Brussels, with the Argentine fully recovered from his hand injury. However, from the outset of the match, they appeared uncomfortable on court. Despite taking an early lead, they suffered four breaks in the first set, which ended 6-3 in favor of their opponents.

The response was swift. In the second set, the number ones asserted their dominance and won convincingly 6-2, forcing a high-stakes third set.

Epic Tiebreak Decides the Match

In the deciding set, both pairs had multiple break chances — seven for Esbrí and Diestro, six for Tapia and Coello — but none could convert. The semifinal spot was decided in a dramatic tiebreak, where Esbrí and Diestro kept their cool and showed determination to close out the match with a resounding 7-1.

With this victory, they become the third pair to defeat the world number ones this year and advance to their first semifinal together. For Diestro, it also marks his debut in a Premier Padel semifinal.

Cardona and Augsburger Deliver Another Blow

The surprises didn’t stop there. In the last match of the day, Pablo Cardona and Leo Augsburger eliminated the world number three pair, Franco Stupaczuk and Juan Lebrón, with a score of 6-3, 5-7, 6-2. The Spaniard and the Argentine continue to showcase their excellent form, advancing to their second semifinal of the season.

Cardona and Augsburger had already defeated both the world number one and number two pairs earlier this season, and now add the number threes to their list, completing a flawless run to the decisive stages of the tournament.

The semifinals of the Asunción Premier Padel P2 promise high drama, with two unexpected pairs battling for a place in the final.