Galán and Chingotto turned it around – and kept the streak alive

When Ale Galán and Juan Lebrón played against each other in the semifinal in Italy, more than just a place in the final was at stake. It was a tense match between two former teammates – and once again, it was Galán who won the match.

When Ale Galán and Juan Lebrón started playing together, they did so under the slogan #NextGen. A highlight video with fast rallies marked the beginning of something big – and it quickly became clear that they would not only meet expectations, but go beyond them.

They became the kings of the padel world. For several seasons, they were almost unbeatable. The question was rarely if they would win – but how clearly. They did lose some matches, but every time they stepped on court, it felt like they were one level above everyone else.

The 2023 season was the turning point. Injuries slowed them down in the spring, and when Agustín Tapia and Arturo Coello won 46 matches in a row, the shift at the top became clear.

Many thought Galán and Lebrón would go separate ways in the autumn – but they stayed together. In fact, they even won a title in early 2024.

Different paths after the split

Later that season, they decided to go separate ways.

Since then, their careers have gone in different directions.

Galán started playing with Fede Chingotto and quickly became part of one of the top pairs on tour. They have played many finals and have beaten the world No. 1s Tapia and Coello – although it’s now been almost a year since their last win against them.

For Lebrón, the journey has been more difficult. After short partnerships with Paquito Navarro and then Martín Di Nenno, he now plays with Franco Stupaczuk. So far, they have won one title, reached three finals, and three quarterfinals.

But one thing had been missing: a win against Galán.

Since their separation, Galán has won every time they have played each other – and that streak continued in Italy.

Even though Lebrón and Stupaczuk took the first set 6–4, Galán and Chingotto managed to turn the match around. They won the tiebreak in the second set and finished strong with 6–2 in the third. The win meant another final – and another victory over his former partner.