Kuwait Major quarter-finals: Libaak and Alfonso do it to Lebrón-Augsburger again, Sintes-Zamora keep dreaming

If Tuesday belonged to Bidahorria and Riera, Wednesday's round of 16 at the Kuwait Major belonged to two young Argentines. Tino Libaak and Gonzalo Alfonso came back on Juan Lebrón and Leo Augsburger (3), winning 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 on centre court — the second time this season they knock out the pair, having already beaten them in the Madrid P1 round of 16 (7-6, 7-5). The wall's name is Libaak. This Thursday (from 12:00 in Spain, on Red Bull TV) the quarter-finals decide the semi-finalists.

The wall Lebrón keeps bouncing off

The world No. 30 pair is no anomaly any more: this season they have taken out Lebrón-Augsburger in two events — the Madrid P1 and Kuwait — and here they did it coming from a set down, with a 6-1 closing act. Libaak, one of the finest drive-side players on tour, defends his side with the Siux Diablo Pro 2026from 199,90 € — the Diablo in its Pro 2026 version, built on aluminised 12K carbon — with Alfonso alongside from the backhand. Their reward: a quarter-final against Martín Di Nenno and Paquito Navarro (5), who rolled over Pol Hernández and Manu Castaño (6-3, 6-0). World No. 12 and No. 8 wield Di Nenno's Bullpadel XPLO 02from 296,99 € and Paquito's Bullpadel Hack 05from 284,99 €. A generational clash from around 12:30 Spanish time.

Coello-Tapia, no cracks

Arturo Coello and Agustín Tapia (1) dismissed Enrique Goenaga and Guillermo Collado 6-2, 6-1 and keep stretching the streak: four straight titles coming into Kuwait and the maths on their side — lift the trophy on Saturday and a fourth consecutive season as world No. 1 is sealed. Waiting in the quarter-finals is the surprise package of the section: Jairo Bautista and Lucas Bergamini (10), who came back on Coki Nieto and Mike Yanguas (6) with a 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 that is pure gold in the fight for fourth place in the rankings. Tapia plays the Nox AT10 Luxury Genius 18K Alum 2026 by Agustín Tapiafrom 169,90 € and Coello the Head Coello Pro 2026from 142,11 €.

In the bottom half, Stupaczuk-Sanz (4) did their job against Jofre-Esbrí (6-2, 7-5) and now meet Edu Alonso and Aimar Goñi, who took out Fran Guerrero and Javi Leal (6-4, 6-4). The Argentine Stupa handles the Siux Electra Stupa Pro ST4from 119,95 € and Jon Sanz the Drop Shot Axion Attack 2.0 2026from 149,95 €, while Rioja's Edu Alonso signs the Nox EA10 Ventus Attack 12K XTREM by Edu Alonsofrom 193,80 €.

Sintes and Zamora, from qualifying to history

Marc Sintes and Coquito Zamora are no longer Sunday's surprise: they are quarter-finalists. On Wednesday they swept Javi García and Álex Ruiz 6-3, 7-5 to open their Major quarter-final account — a week ago they had never been past a round of 32 at this level. Juan Tello, Bullpadel Vertex 05from 208,90 € in hand, is the favourite on paper… but on paper so were Momo-Campagnolo and García-Ruiz.

The women's draw: tidy… with one small box of surprises

The top four seeds are all through to the quarter-finals, and every surviving pair counts at least one Spanish player in its ranks. Triay-Brea (1) showed no mercy on Talaván-Saiz (6-0, 6-1), Josemaría-Bea (2) swept Montes-Barrera (6-1, 6-0) and Ari Sánchez-Andrea Ustero (3) did the same to Fassio-Virseda (6-2, 6-1). The tightest match belonged to Claudia Fernández and Martina Calvo (4), who had to come back on the marathon women Velasco-Eugenio.

The surprise box was packed by Lorena Rufo and Victoria Iglesias: 6-2, 6-2 over Bidahorria-Riera, end of the Argentine dream. Thursday's quarter-finals: Triay-Brea against the streaky Nuria Rodríguez-Giulia Dal Pozzo, Josemaría-Bea against Rufo-Iglesias, Fernández-Calvo against Ortega-Araújo and Sánchez-Ustero against Icardo-Jensen. Gemma Triay signs the Bullpadel Elite 02from 241,99 €, Bea González the Bullpadel Pearl 2027from 215,99 €, Tamara Icardo the StarVie Tritón T-Onefrom 253,99 € and Ari Sánchez the Adidas Arrow HIT Light 2026from 175,99 €.