Key Takeaways
- Pedro Araujo and Pedro Graça claimed the FIP Silver Lisboa Padel Racket Centre by Ava CR7 title with a 6-3, 6-7, 6-2 final victory over Marco Cassetta and Fabian Oviedo.
- Paying tribute to the home support, Araujo said: “It had been a long time since we had been chasing a title like this, and being able to win it at home is truly special.”
- After dropping the opening set, Marisol Fernandez and Cristina Carrascosa fought back to beat Giorgia Rosi and Paula Ferran 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 for the women’s championship.
Portuguese success at Cristiano Ronaldo’s Lisbon venue
At the Lisbon venue established by football star Cristiano Ronaldo, Portuguese pair Pedro Araujo and Pedro Graça completed a superb home campaign by winning the FIP Silver Lisboa Padel Racket Centre by Ava CR7.
Before lifting the trophy, the Portuguese duo survived a demanding semi-final against Dani Luna and Iago Fuertes, prevailing in a tense deciding-set tie-break to win 7-6, 3-6, 7-6. Araujo and Graça then held firm in the championship match, overcoming Marco Cassetta and Fabian Oviedo 6-3, 6-7, 6-2.
“It had been a long time since we had been chasing a title like this, and being able to win it at home is truly special,” Araujo said while looking back on the victory. “I could not be happier with this great team. Special thanks to everyone who supported us and who, over the past few days, filled the stands of this incredible stadium. I have no doubt that they were a fundamental part of a week I will never forget.”
The result added another Portuguese title to a highly consistent season for Araujo and Graça, who had already won FIP Bronze events in Madeira and Portimao. Araujo’s strong recent form also includes the mixed-category gold medal he earned with his sister Sofia at the Mediterranean Games in late August.
Fernandez and Carrascosa capture the women’s title
Spanish duo Marisol Fernandez and Cristina Carrascosa overturned an early deficit to win the women’s competition. Giorgia Rosi and Paula Ferran took the first set of the final, but Fernandez and Carrascosa controlled the next two to complete a 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 comeback.
Fernandez and Carrascosa reached the title match by coming through a difficult semi-final against Portugal’s Catarina Santos and Spain’s Carmen Azcoitia, winning 6-3, 4-6, 6-1. Their success in Lisbon was their second tournament title of the season after an earlier victory at the FIP Bronze Sassuolo.
“Champions of FIP Silver Lisbon,” Fernandez said following the victory. “I am proud and very happy with the level we showed. Cristina, you are truly the best.”
