The “Lobo” reproached his Argentine partner for a play during the round of 16 match in Valladolid. The argument escalated and Stupaczuk momentarily left the court... although he later returned and they made up.

A heated moment in a key Premier Padel clash

The round-of-16 match at the P2 Valladolid stop of the Premier Padel tour saw Juan Lebrón and Franco Stupaczuk face off against Javi Garrido and Diego Gil. The Spanish-Argentine duo came away with a 7-6, 6-3 win, but the match made headlines for another reason: a heated exchange between teammates that quickly went viral on social media.

The incident occurred after the end of the first set, which Lebrón and Stupa had won in a tight tiebreak. During the break, the Spanish player angrily criticized a missed shot by his partner, sparking a fiery argument.

“You’re playing for the f*ing opponent, clown,” snapped Stupaczuk, throwing his racket to the ground before storming off. The conversation continued courtside with their coach, Carlos Pozzoni, as tensions remained high.

Highlights from the heated exchange:

• “It’s a lack of respect,” said Lebrón.
• “Calm down, you’re acting crazy,” replied Pozzoni.
• “Tell him, have the balls,” insisted Lebrón, referring to Stupa’s errors.
• “You need to calm down, you’re out of control,” repeated the coach.
• “There’s no saving you, Juan, this is too much,” concluded Stupaczuk as he walked off court.

Storm passes, peace returns

Fortunately, the argument didn’t last long. A few minutes later, Stupa returned from the locker room, greeted Lebrón with a handshake and a hug, and even made light of the incident. Pozzoni also downplayed the tension with a joke: “Now I’m not feeling the good vibes,” he said with a laugh.

This was a clear example of how emotions can run high in elite competition, but professionalism and team spirit ultimately prevail. Lebrón and Stupaczuk pulled together, secured the win, and moved on to the quarterfinals in Valladolid.