Day1, the action begins: Egypt and Monaco celebrate, top players arrive on Sunday

An exciting opening day for Padel at the Mediterranean Games. Day 1 at Parco del Mediterraneo Salinella came alive with applause from the crowd, already sizeable for the first matches on the schedule, and celebrations on court for the winners. Among the day’s highlights was Tunisia’s men’s victory with Mehdi Elloumi and Mohamed Aziz Helali defeating Greece’s Balafas/Sioulis 6-3 6-3. The result earns them a place in the last 16, where they will face José Diestro and David Gala, the tournament’s number 2 seeds, at 20 CEST on Sunday on the Central Court. Before the Spaniards, Portugal’s Nuno and Miguel Deus will be among the other big names making their debut, against Kosovo’s brothers Lavdrim and Leotrim Krasniqi, who defeated Türkiye’s Ozbayrak/Toker 7-6 6-3 today. The other Portuguese pair, Pedro Araujo and Pedro Graça, will also take to the court at 20 CEST against Slovenia’s Boštjan Repanšek and Simon Javoršek, who beat Serbia’s Acimov/Certic 6-1 6-2.

It was a day to remember for Monaco: Nicolas Fedoroff and 2009-born Noah Minioni, the Principality’s only Padel representatives, defeated Albania’s Muedini/Serjani 6-3 2-6 6-4. Albania will nevertheless have a pair in the next round, with Fjoralb Curri and Krisitan Naska progressing after a 6-4 6-4 win over Kosovo’s Recica/Rexhepi. Egypt also enjoyed a double success, with Mohamed Aboulkassem and Aly Zaghloul progressing, as did Youssef Hussein and Georges Wakim against Athletica Vaticana’s Tiziano Lucarelli and Fabrizio Peloni, who are competing for demonstration purposes. Morocco also advanced, with Mohamed Alami and Reda El Amrani defeating Montenegro’s Pelonzi/Petranovic.

WOMEN’S The women’s draw will also enter its decisive stages, with the first top players arriving on Sunday. Home favourites Carolina Orsi and Giorgia Marchetti (4) will be among the most eagerly awaited players on the Central Court, beginning their campaign in the afternoon session at 17 CEST against Egypt’s Mayar Tawfik and Farida El Halaby, who did not drop a game against Kosovo’s Gashi/Peja. Lucia Sainz and Patty Llaguno (2) will face Montenegro’s Jelena Matijevic and Ivanka Simonovic, while European runners-up Louise Bahurel and Lucile Pothier (6) of France will take on another Egyptian pair, Laila El Nimr and Moura Hakim, who completed a clean sweep of victories for their country with their win over Greece’s Malamou/Ntanou. Croatia’s Karolina Balog/Lea Jurković also progressed, defeating Serbia’s Nikolic/Mirkovic. Their next match will be on Monday 24 against Nuria Rodriguez and Jimena Velasco.

MIXED Two mixed-draw matches will instead open the day at 10:00 CEST. Egypt’s Moura Hakim and Youssef Hossam will face Greece’s Pavlos-Louis Balafas and Christina Styliani Ntanou, while Cyprus’ Sergis Kyratis and Maria Siopacha will take on Türkiye’s Zeynep Kocak and Unsal Ataol Toker.