Argentina Chases Two Padel Golds as South American Games Finals Get Underway in Rafaela

Argentina goes for a padel sweep at the South American Games on Friday, with two home pairs in gold medal finals on the same afternoon in Rafaela.

Men's final: Argentina vs Paraguay

Santino Contreras and Ignacio Piotto reached the final after beating Uruguay's Juan Artia and Higor Ensslin 6-0, 7-6 (8-6) in a match that ran an hour and 29 minutes. They now face Paraguay's Martin Abud and Facundo Dehnike, who knocked out Chile's Matias Negrete and Daniel Salinas 6-4, 6-2. The men's final is set for no earlier than 6 pm local time at the Microestadio Invencible in Rafaela.

Women's final: Argentina vs Chile

Victoria Vilchez and Maria Belen Mosca cruised past Peru's Nicole Aragones and Maria Paula Torres 6-1, 6-1 to book their spot. Chile's Kimberley Ahumada and Catalina Arancibia are the opponents after they beat Ecuador's Alejandra Alvarez and Marines Holguin 6-3, 6-0. That final is scheduled for 4 pm local time, also in Rafaela. Vilchez, just 16 and from Rio Cuarto, has not dropped a set all week.

A historic week for the sport

This is the first time padel has carried official medal status at the South American Games. It ran as an exhibition sport at Asuncion 2022. A win in either final would give Argentina the first continental titles awarded in the event's history.

Bronze medal matches are also on the schedule: Uruguay against Chile in the men's draw, and Peru against Ecuador in the women's draw, with the women's bronze match set for 11 am local time.