NextGen Derby at Rafa Nadal Academy
The match featured a showcase of young talent known as the NextGen derby. On the court faced two Spanish pairs called "the boys from Krakow": Alonso Rodriguez and David Gala. Both were key in Spain’s gold medal at the 2023 European Games in Poland.
Teams and Players
- Alonso Rodriguez teamed with left-handed Argentinian Ignacio Juani Rubini.
- David Gala partnered with fellow Madrilenian Pablo Garcia.
- All four players are young prospects: Gala and Rubini were born in 2006; Rodriguez and Garcia in 2003.
Match Highlights
The match took place on Court 2 at the Rafa Nadal Academy. Both pairs exhibited impressive padel skills, reflecting their rapid development. Notably, Gala-Garcia had already eliminated the number 5 seeds, Di Nenno-Augsburger, showing their strong form in the CUPRA FIP Tour—Garcia arrived with three consecutive titles, Gala with two.
"The final score, 6-4, 7-6, after a big comeback by Rodriguez-Rubini in the second set up to the tiebreak, perfectly reflected a match between the sport’s rising stars."
Significance of the Victory
David Gala has been dubbed “the chosen one” and is regarded as the brightest talent in Spain’s new generation. This quarterfinal achievement with Garcia stands as the most important milestone in their careers so far.
"Before the FIP World Cup Pairs, Gala’s best result was a quarterfinal (with Campagnolo) at Tarragona P1 2025, where he lost 6-2, 6-2 to Yanguas-Nieto."
This win against Rodriguez-Rubini marks a historic quarterfinal advancement for Gala and Garcia, facing the formidable Yanguas-Nieto in the next round.
Author’s summary: David Gala and Pablo Garcia's victory at the Rafa Nadal Academy signals a breakthrough in Spain's rising padel talent, highlighting their rapid progress and historic career milestone.