A memorable evening brought to a close a week that, thanks to the nearly 20,000 spectators who filled the stands in Skënderbeg Square and the surrounding courts, will remain a landmark moment for Albanian padel and the CUPRA FIP Tour. The FIP Platinum Tirana crowned its champions, who received their trophies from, among others, the Albanian Minister of Sport, Tourism and Culture, Blendi Gonxhja, Deputy Minister Endrit Hoxha and Albanian Padel Federation President Erjon Keri. During the evening, Prime Minister Edi Rama also followed the finals. Claiming the men’s title and 300 FIP Ranking points were Franco Stupaczuk and Mike Yanguas, while Marina Guinart and Veronica Virseda triumphed in the women’s draw.
MEN The remarkable run of David Gala and Enzo Jensen came to an end in the final (6-4 4-6 7-5). The young pair were the biggest surprise of the FIP Platinum Albania, having defeated the No. 2 seeds (Nieto/Sanz), No. 7 seeds (Ruiz/Esbri) and No. 4 seeds (Di Nenno/Bautista). However, the two players born in 2006 were unable to overcome the tournament’s top seeds, Franco Stupaczuk and Mike Yanguas, who secured their first title of the season after finishing runners-up at the Premier Padel P2 in Newgiza. A break in the third game proved decisive in the opening set. In the second, Gala and Jensen earned the first break of serve, with Stupaczuk and Yanguas levelling at 4-3. A moment of brilliance from Gala then earned the younger pair two set points, and they converted the first following a volley error from Yanguas. A break in the third game of the deciding set put Stupaczuk and Yanguas ahead once again. Gala and Jensen responded with an immediate break back to level at 4-4, before the top seeds made the decisive move. “I would like to thank Albania for welcoming us this week”, said Stupaczuk. “I believe our team’s objective was to win the tournament and we achieved it. We are very pleased and want to arrive in Rome next week with great confidence”. “The people here have been extraordinary,” added Yanguas. “We are very happy to win our first title of the season. I would also like to thank the entire organisation, all the staff and everyone involved because they did an exceptional job. I believe padel will continue to grow in Albania in the future”.
WOMEN While the top seeds prevailed in the men’s draw, it was the No. 2 seeds who lifted the trophy in the women’s competition. For Marina Guinart and Veronica Virseda, this was also their first title of 2026, secured with a 7-5 6-1 victory over Ale Salazar and Ale Alonso in a final that featured two very different sets. The opening set was closely contested and decided by a late break of serve. In the second, Guinart and Virseda took control, with a volley error from Alonso bringing the match to an end. “I want to thank everyone for coming,” said Virseda. “It has been a fantastic week and seeing people with smiles on their faces every day was incredible. Honestly, we could hardly believe it. Our opponents approached the match tactically very well, but we never stopped fighting and I think that is our identity. We must continue on this path because I believe it will bring us many more successes“. “We always fight and always believe, and I think that is the beauty of the game,” added Guinart. “We are competing against outstanding opponents, so we are really happy to have won another title. Now it is time to rest for at least a day because tomorrow we fly to Rome.”
From FIP Platinum Albania to the BNL Italy Major Premier Padel, from one iconic venue such as Skënderbeg Square to another, the Foro Italico. That is the beauty of padel.