Spain Locks In All-Spanish Women's Final, Faces Italy for Men's Gold in Taranto

Spain has already clinched the gold medal in women's padel at the Mediterranean Games before a ball is served in Friday's final.

An all-Spanish derby

Patty Llaguno and Lucia Sainz beat Italy's Carolina Orsi and Giorgia Marchetti 6-3, 6-4 in the first semifinal at the Parco del Mediterraneo Salinella in Taranto. Nuria Rodriguez and Jimena Velasco followed with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Portugal's Sofia Araujo and Ana Catarina Nogueira. Neither Spanish pair has dropped a set all week, and both pairs feature former world No. 1 players.

The final is set for Friday, August 28, with both Spanish teams already guaranteed a medal as padel makes its debut as a medal sport at these Games.

"We have also played at the World Championships, but the atmosphere at the Mediterranean Games is truly unique, something completely different from everything else," Llaguno said after the win.

Spain vs Italy for men's gold

The men's draw is not settled yet. David Gala and Jose Antonio Diestro beat Portugal's Nuno and Miguel Deus 7-5, 7-5 to reach the final, where they will face Italy's Flavio Abbate and Alvaro Montiel, who won an all-Italian semifinal over Marco Cassetta and Simone Iacovino 7-6, 6-1. That match is not scheduled to start before 19:00 local time on the same court.

A mixed doubles final between Italy and Portugal is also on Friday's schedule, capping padel's first appearance at the Mediterranean Games with three golds decided in a single day.