If there’s a storyline pulling padel forward right now, it’s the clash between Agustín Tapia & Arturo Coello and Alejandro Galán & Federico Chingotto.
As a performance-driven brand, we study this rivalry to understand how elite tactics evolve and how micro-advantages decide titles.
💯The Scoreboard: Finals That Shaped 2025
Let’s anchor the narrative with real, recent results:
- Qatar Major (Apr 2025): Tapia/Coello staged a comeback in the final to claim the first Major of the season, reaffirming their grip on No.1. Premier Padel
- Brussels P2 (Apr 27, 2025): Another comeback win for Tapia/Coello over Galán/Chingotto—they dropped the first set, then flipped the match. That victory extended their rule in P2 events.
- Italy Major (Rome, Jun 2025): Galán/Chingotto delivered a statement title at the Foro Italico, halting the No.1 pair’s streak and showing they can dominate on the biggest stage.
- Bordeaux P2 (Jul 2025): Tapia/Coello struck back; official channels documented their march to the title.
And just when the rivalry looked like a closed loop, Madrid P1 (Sep 2025) exploded with a twist: Augsburger/Di Nenno stormed the draw and beat Chingotto/Galán, then Lebrón/Stupa, and finally Coello/Tapia in a historic run—evidence that the field keeps evolving. Rivalries sharpen the elite, but the pack is always chasing.
🔥 How They Win Points: Patterns and Pressure
Tapia/Coello
- Structure: According to FIP profiles, Coello plays the right side and Tapia the left, a setup that surprises casual fans because Coello is left-handed yet still occupies the right. It works because his wingspan, court coverage, and finishing options from the middle create chaos for opponents, while Tapia’s left-side creativity opens angles and counterattacks.
- Signature dynamics: They thrive in fast transitions from defense to offense; give them a mid-height ball and you’ll pay. Coello’s finishing power puts immediate pressure on lobs that don’t land deep; Tapia manipulates tempo with soft-hard variations—especially on diagonal exchanges—before knifing in behind.
Galán/Chingotto
- Structure: Galán on the left, Chingotto on the right (drive). Galán’s length and first-step speed let him own the center on offense; Chingotto runs the chessboard—resetting, counter-lobbing, and baiting errors with surgical defense that turns into opportunistic attack.
- Signature dynamics: They excel at lengthening rallies on their terms, forcing opponents to hit a “fourth ball” under pressure. Their best weapon is patience disguised as aggression: they move forward behind heavy, deep lobs and look to pin the left-side player with awkward overheads.
⚡ Tactical Fault Lines
- Serve + 3rd ball: Tapia/Coello look to finish quickly; short returns get punished. Galán/Chingotto aim to neutralize with deep, corner-biting returns that slow the rush and force extra volleys.
- Lob wars: Against Tapia’s left-side overheads, Chingotto often lobs diagonal to the backhand fence, forcing a difficult “rulo” or bandeja that sits up—then they counter through the middle. (Watch how often they test overhead depth before pouncing.)
- Middle control: Coello’s presence makes the T-zone dangerous; if Galán doesn’t win early center exchanges, he’s dragged wide, opening seams for Tapia’s inside-out counters.
- Set management: When Galán/Chingotto get score leverage (15-30 on your serve), they don’t chase highlight shots—they squeeze. Conversely, when Tapia/Coello lead, they accelerate and shorten sets.
📊 What 2025 Has Taught Us (So Far)
Depth is rising. Madrid P1’s shock result is a warning shot: if you’re off 5%, someone will take your lunch.
Momentum swings matter. The best pairs can erase a bad first set (see Brussels P2). You can’t relax after a single break—ever.
Majors are different. Rome showed how Galán/Chingotto’s structure can blunt Tapia/Coello’s pace over a long, tactical final. Expect this duel to decide more Majors.
🧴 Performance Tip from 4on
When two pairs this good face each other, every detail matters — including grip. The last thing a player wants is a slip in a decisive point. That’s why reliable gear is part of what separates winners from almost-winners.
👉 Discover 4on’s grip-enhancing spray
📌 A 4on Performance Note
At this level, separation comes from micro-details—footwork on the second volley, the quality of the defensive lob… and yes, grip control in heat and humidity. We see it all the time: a slippery handle at 5-5 is a free point to the other side. That’s exactly the scenario we design for with our 4on grip-enhancing spray—clean contact, under pressure, set after set.
Verdict: We’re watching an era-defining rivalry that’s shaping how padel is played. If you’re studying the sport to improve, model your practice around their contrasts: pace vs. patience, blunt force vs. surgical control. The more you understand why each point pattern works, the faster your own game will level up.
