Galán & Chingotto Dethrone the Kings in Gijón
Nobody gave them the final. Not the bookmakers, not the pundits, and certainly not the 4,200 fans packed into the Palacio de Deportes on Sunday night. But Ale Galán and Fernando Chingotto didn't care about the script.
The Argentine-Spanish duo outpaced Arturo Coello and Agustín Tapia 7-5, 7-6(3) in a Premier Padel P2 final that swung from surgical precision to full-blown chaos — exactly the kind of match Chingotto thrives in. While Coello and Tapia came in riding a 14-match winning streak and the number-one ranking, Galán and Chingotto had something those stats couldn't measure: a point to prove.
The first set was a masterclass in patience. Galán controlled the right side like a chess grandmaster, constructing points with deep lobs and backhand walls that forced Tapia into uncomfortable positions. Chingotto, meanwhile, did what Chingotto does — turned defense into attack with impossible recoveries off the back glass that left the crowd screaming.
Coello and Tapia found their rhythm in the second set. Coello's smash was borderline unfair, and Tapia started connecting on those trademark bajadas that make him the most exciting player on tour. At 3-6 they leveled, and the smart money said momentum had shifted.
It hadn't. Galán and Chingotto broke late in both sets and held their nerve when it mattered. The stats tell the story: Coello and Tapia earned zero break points all match and committed 20 unforced errors to just 11 from Galán and Chingotto. The tiebreak was clinical — 7-3, no drama.
"We've been building something special," Galán said courtside, visibly emotional. "People forget we've both won everything in this sport. Tonight we reminded them." The victory gives Galán his 54th career title — equaling Tapia's count for the most among active players.
For Coello and Tapia, it's a bump in the road, not a collapse. They're still the pair to beat on tour. But Gijón proved something important: the field is closing the gap. With Galán's experience and Chingotto's unpredictability, this pairing is now a legitimate title threat at every tournament.
Quick Hits
- Qatar Major postponed — Premier Padel and the FIP confirmed the Ooredoo Qatar Major, scheduled for April 6-11 in Doha, has been postponed due to the "unprecedented situation across the region." The Steering Committee will meet to assess broader implications for the 2026 calendar.
- Miami P1 targets attendance record — The Miami Premier Padel P1 (Mar 23-29) returns to the Miami Beach Convention Center with expanded capacity and record-breaking ambition. Last year's inaugural edition sold out four consecutive days.
- Bullpadel drops 2026 range — The Vertex 05 headlines the new collection with Air React Channel technology and 12K carbon faces. Claudia Fernández's Wonder model debuts ExoFrame, an exoskeleton-type frame for lateral rigidity. Early reviews call it Bullpadel's best lineup yet.
- Partner shake-ups already underway — Several top-40 pairings have reshuffled after Riyadh and Gijón, with players looking for better chemistry ahead of the spring Majors. The men's circuit is seeing the most movement.
Weekend Results
Men's Draw — Gijón P2:
- 🥇 Galán / Chingotto def. Coello / Tapia 7-5, 7-6(3)
- 🥈 Coello / Tapia reached the final but committed 20 unforced errors vs 11
- Notable: Galán equals Tapia's career title count at 54
Women's Draw — Gijón P2:
- 🥇 Triay / Brea def. Ustero / Sánchez in a 3-hour marathon final
- Triay and Brea return to winning ways after a tough start to the season
Coming Up Next
- Cancún P2 (Mar 16-22) — Currently underway at the Rafa Nadal Tennis Center. Coello/Tapia and Galán/Chingotto both in the draw. Potential semifinal clash between Galán/Chingotto and Lebrón/Augsburger.
- Miami P1 (Mar 23-29) — The biggest padel event ever held in the United States returns to Miami Beach. This is a P1 event — expect the full top 20.
- London P1 confirmed for August — Premier Padel's first-ever London event (Aug 3-9) is officially on the 2026 calendar, alongside a new stop in Pretoria, South Africa.
Never miss an edition
Join 500+ padel players getting weekly news.
Did You Know?
The Palacio de Deportes in Gijón was originally built for basketball in 1992. It hosted its first padel event in 2024 and has since become one of the loudest venues on the Premier Padel circuit. Players consistently rank the Gijón crowd as the most passionate in Spain — yes, even above Madrid.
Player Spotlight
Marta Ortega
Ortega kicked off 2026 with a new partner — 17-year-old Martina Calvo, the youngest player to ever reach a Premier Padel final. It's a bold move: after splitting with Tamara Icardo at the end of 2025, Ortega could have played it safe. Instead, she bet on raw talent. The pair already won the FIP Platinum of Lyon, and Ortega has been vocal about Calvo's ceiling: "She has everything to become number one." At 29, Ortega — who holds a medical degree and became the youngest world number one back in 2019 — is combining veteran experience with a protégé who could define the next era of women's padel. One to watch all season.
Hot Take
The Qatar Major postponement is a bigger deal than Premier Padel is letting on. "Unprecedented situation across the region" is vague enough to mean anything, and the 20-member Steering Committee meeting to "assess broader implications" suggests this isn't a simple reschedule. Players who planned their entire spring around Doha now have a gap in the calendar and uncertainty about whether the prize money is guaranteed. Premier Padel needs to communicate faster and clearer — the players deserve better than corporate-speak when their livelihoods are affected.
Number of the Week
54
Ale Galán's career title count, now level with Agustín Tapia for most among active players
Never miss an edition
Join 500+ padel players getting weekly news.
Related Blog Posts
What Is the Star Point in Padel? The New 2026 Scoring Rule Explained
The Star Point system caps deuce games at 2 advantages before a sudden-death point. Here's how it works in 2026.
What Is the Premier Padel Tour? 2026 Schedule, Format & Rankings Explained
Complete guide to the Premier Padel Tour 2026 — tournament tiers, full schedule, ranking system, and how to watch all 26 events.