The FIP Gold São Paulo tournament concluded with spectacular performances, highlighted by David Gala’s impressive back-to-back international victories and a dominant win for the top-seeded women’s pair. The event awarded 150 FIP Ranking points to the champions, significantly impacting the Race to the Finals standings.
Tournament Results and Key Takeaways
The competition in Brazil showcased high-level padel across both the men’s and women’s draws. Here are the key outcomes and highlights from the event:
- Men’s Champions: David Gala and Maxi Arce. The duo secured the title in a decisive 6-4, 6-4 victory over José Diestro and Juanlu Esbri. The match lasted one hour and 24 minutes, marking a successful partnership debut for the pair.
- David Gala’s Historic Week: Gala achieved a rare feat by winning two FIP Gold titles on two different continents within seven days. Prior to his win in São Paulo, he triumphed in Bucharest alongside Enzo Jensen. This victory marks Gala’s third title of 2026, each achieved with a different partner.
- Maxi Arce’s Ranking Boost: By securing the 150 FIP points in Brazil, Arce has moved significantly closer to the top 16 in the Race to the Finals, building on his previous success at the FIP Platinum Paredes.
- Women’s Champions: Jimena Velasco and Raquel Eugenio. As the number one seeds, Velasco and Eugenio defeated Lorena Rufo and Jessica Castelló with a score of 7-5, 6-4 to claim the trophy.
- Velasco and Eugenio’s Season Milestones: For Velasco, this victory represents her first FIP Gold title and her third CUPRA FIP Tour title of 2026. For Eugenio, the win marks her sixth title of the season and the 13th of her professional career, following her previous success at the FIP Platinum Marseille.
- Strategic Adjustments: Reflecting on the final, Eugenio noted that while the pair started slowly and faced a break deficit, they focused on small details to shift the momentum. Despite experiencing some nerves during the second set, they successfully maintained their lead to close out the match.
Following the conclusion of the São Paulo event, the CUPRA FIP Tour is set to return to Europe immediately. Players will now turn their attention to the FIP Platinum Lyon, which begins this Wednesday and offers 300 Race points to the competitors.
