Lebron, Galan storm into semis

Tribune News Network Doha World No.1 pair Juan Lebron and Alejandro Galan underlined their billing status as the duo stormed into the semi-finals of the Oo...

Tribune News NetworkDohaWorld No.1 pair Juan Lebron and Alejandro Galan underlined their billing status as the duo stormed into the semi-finals of the Ooredoo Qatar Major 2022 Premier Padel at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on Thursday.The Spaniards eliminated Argentina’s Fernando Belasteguin and Spain’s Arturo Coello 6-3, 7-5 in the quarter-final in 1 hour and 20 minutes. Blocking Lebron and Galan’s path to the final of the $575,000 tournament, however, will be Argentinians Federico Chingotto and Juan Tello who prevailed in a thrilling late-night semis clash against Luciano Capra and Javier Ruiz Gonzalez. Chingotto and Tello won 6-3, 7-6.Earlier, in the second quarter-final of the day, second seeds Francisco Navarro and (Spain) Martin Di Nenno (Argentina) booked their place in last four with a dominant win over Javier Rico and Jeronimo Gonzalez.The Spanish Argentinian pair was no match for the ninth seeds Rico and Gonzalez as Navarro and Di Nenno won the hour-long encounter with a 6-1, 6-3 scoreline.The world’s second best pair will now meet Spain’s Alejandro Ruiz and Franco Stupaczuk of Argentina for a place in the final of the inaugural edition of the International Padel Federation’s (FIP) official World Tour, backed by Qatar Sports Investments.Ruiz and Stupaczuk, seeded third, spent 108 minutes to defeat Brazil’s Lucas Campagnolo and Spaniard Javier Garrido in a thriller which saw a final score of 6-7, 4-6.