Coello and Tapia open their Bordeaux P2 title bid against Sanchez and Gil in the last 16

Arturo Coello and Agustin Tapia play their first match at the Bordeaux Premier Padel P2 on Thursday, and they don't get an easy landing. The top seeds sat out the round of 32 on a bye, so this round of 16 against Maxi Sanchez and Xisco Gil is their opening test at the Patinoire Meriadeck.

The matchup

Sanchez and Gil earned the tie by coming through the round of 32. They're an all-Spanish pair with plenty of tour miles between them, and a fast start would hand the favorites something to solve early. Coello and Tapia have the power and the pedigree, but a bye can leave a team cold, and openers against sharp opponents are where upsets begin.

Form

Coello and Tapia arrive hot. They won the Valladolid P2 last week, beating Alejandro Galan and Federico Chingotto in the final, and they've held the No. 1 ranking through the season. Bordeaux is the next stop on the Premier Padel calendar, and another deep run keeps their lead intact.

When and where

The round of 16 is on Thursday, July 2 at the Meriadeck arena in Bordeaux. Coello and Tapia are down for the evening session on centre court, with the quarterfinals to follow on Friday.