Twenty-four head-to-heads in less than two years, nine of them in 2025 alone. Yet there’s always something magical about every clash between Coello–Tapia and Chingotto–Galán. It’s not just padel, and it’s not just technique — it’s a battle of nerves, invisible strategies, movements, and glances that go beyond the pure athletic act. “The Duelists” — a nod to Ridley Scott’s film that has become more and more fitting over time — will meet again at the Oysho Milano Premier Padel P1, almost a year after last season’s spectacular final, when Arturo and “Agu” claimed the last title before the year-end Finals.
The 2025 race kicks off on Wednesday, with Coello and Tapia scheduled for the third match of the morning session (starting at 9.30 a.m.), while “Chingalan” will take the stage in the evening. It’s a long-distance duel made even more thrilling by their recent battles: in Germany at the end of September, Chingotto and Galán pulled off a monumental win over the world No.1s; last week in Rotterdam, Tapia and Coello struck back immediately, extending their head-to-head lead to 17–7 overall (7–2 in 2025). At the Allianz Cloud, they are the pair to beat — though their rivals have a special bond with Italy. For two years, the Premier Padel Major in Rome has been “Chingalan territory,” and last year they also triumphed in Genoa. But Milan still eludes them as a duo: Galán lifted the trophy here in 2022 and 2023 alongside Lebrón, while for Chingotto it would be a first — and unforgettable — time.
From the men’s duel to the great rivalry in the women’s game, it’s time for “Las Reinas” — the Queens — who have shaken up what was once an unshakable ranking order. Gemma Triay and Delfi Brea have dominated 2025. After winning Milan last December alongside Claudia Fernandez, Triay made a surprise move, teaming up with Brea with one clear goal: reclaim world No.1 together. Nine months and nine titles later, mission accomplished. A stunning achievement against two legends like Ari Sanchez and Paula Josemaria, who ruled the sport for 107 consecutive weeks, and now find themselves chasing — with Delfi up to No.2 — from third place in the world rankings.
The chase resumes in Milan on Thursday: for Triay and Brea, the goal is La Décima — title number ten of the season — while for Sanchez and Josemaria, it’s a long-awaited return after last year’s withdrawal, when an injury sidelined “Paulita” just before the start. The bar has been raised higher than ever — but if there’s one pair capable of reigniting the fire, it’s the duo that ruled the world for years.