Back on the Throne: Coello & Tapia Win the Italy Major in Rome

June 7, 2026 · Rome, Italy · BNL Italy Major Premier Padel

The Foro Italico fell silent for just a moment — then erupted. Agustín Tapia's final smash landed clean, the crowd of more than 9,000 rose to its feet, and Arturo Coello rushed to embrace his partner. The number ones were back.

Coello and Tapia had just won the BNL Italy Major Premier Padel 2026, defeating Alejandro Galán and Federico Chingotto 7-5, 7-6 in a final that crackled with tension from the first point to the last. It was their second Rome title — after winning here in 2023 — and a statement to the entire circuit: the kings hadn't gone anywhere.

A Final Built on Nerves and Brilliance

This was no procession. Galán and Chingotto — world number 3s and the pair who beat Coello and Tapia in the Buenos Aires final just weeks earlier — pushed every point. The first set stayed locked until 5-5, when the world number ones seized their chance: a break, then a hold, and the first set was theirs 7-5.

The second set was tighter still. Coello and Tapia broke early, but when serving for the match, Coello missed a smash that reopened everything. The tie-break that followed was the defining moment of the tournament — Galán clipped the net at 5-4, and Tapia's final smash sealed it. 7-6, match and title.

The numbers back up the dominance: 58 winners and just 21 unforced errors from Coello and Tapia in the final, compared to 49 winners and 24 unforced errors from the opposition. On first serve they won 72% of points. On second serve — a remarkable 100%.

The Road to the Title

The triumph didn't come from nowhere. Coello and Tapia were flawless all week at the Foro Italico, dropping not a single set across five matches.

What This Win Means

Context matters. Coming into Rome, Coello and Tapia had just been beaten by Galán and Chingotto in the Buenos Aires final (6-2, 6-1) — a result that had people questioning whether the number ones were being caught. Rome was the answer, delivered at the most iconic venue in European padel.

It was their second Rome title, matching their 2023 win at the same Foro Italico — when they were still rising stars on the circuit. Now they are the circuit. The victory returned them to the top of the Race standings and extended their remarkable 2026 record.

How Dominant Were They?

Rome: The Perfect Stage

There is something fitting about the Foro Italico as a padel venue. Built for sport spectacle, surrounded by marble statues, overlooking the Tiber — it is arguably the most dramatic setting on the entire Premier Padel circuit. Nine thousand fans inside, the Rome skyline as backdrop, and the world's best pair on court. This is what padel looks like when everything comes together.

The women's final added to the occasion: Delfi Brea and Gemma Triay also won, reclaiming their own throne in the same building on the same evening. Two pairs. Two reigning world number ones. Two comebacks. One night.