ROME - Javi Barahona and Nacho Piotto have made a flying start at the Fip Gold in Turin - Italy’s third most important padel event after the Rome Major and the Premier Padel P1 in Milan - which is being held at the Palavillage in Grugliasco until Sunday, November 1. The top seeds in the men’s draw - a statement said - conceded just one game to opponents Luis Oliver and Ivan Repetuev, immediately underlining their title ambitions. Also advancing after the opening day were Argentina’s Alex Chozas, a world champion two years ago with the Albiceleste, and his young compatriot Juani Rubini (6-3 7-6 over French pair Hugounenq/Pillon). In the women’s draw, “legend” Lucia Sainz, a gold medallist at the Mediterranean Games two months ago, made a strong start alongside talented player Leti Manquillo, beating Raquel Rodriguez and Carlotta Burello (6-1 6-0). Among the Italians, Francesca Campigotto - one of the local players - and Carolina Petrelli shone, reaching the second round along with young Italian junior Matilde Minelli, who is paired with Carla Mesa. Friday will see an all-Italian showdown between Campigotto-Petrelli and Minelli for a place in the quarter-finals.
The tournament, organised under the patronage of the Piedmont regional government and Grugliasco council, marks a step up in category from last year’s Fip Silver, also held in Turin, and brings to Piedmont one of the 12 Gold events on the Cupra Fip Tour, the International Padel Federation’s international circuit. With almost 200 male and female players from more than 10 countries, the Fip Gold offers €50,000 in prize money and 150 world ranking points. The event comes amid strong growth in the sport: according to Fip figures, the number of padel courts in Piedmont rose from 274 in 2021 to 782 in October 2026, an increase of 185.4%.
Turin’s Matteo Rosingana also made a winning start in Thursday’s first round, teaming up with Santino Giuliani to beat Spaniards Karlos Rodriguez and José Manuel Ortiz (6-3 4-6 6-1). On Friday, they will face Italian-Argentinian Santino Nicocia and Spain’s José Pedro Montalban.
