Sanyo Gutierrez and Maxi Sanchez Open Milano P1 With a Win as Salazar's Farewell Season Rolls On

Sanyo Gutierrez and Maxi Sanchez Blasco needed three sets to get past Nacho Vilarino and Juan "Coquito" Zamora on the opening day of the Oysho Milano P1, winning 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 at the Allianz Cloud. The result kept the veteran pairing's run going at a tournament where youth usually sets the pace.

Monday belonged to the old guard

Gutierrez, a former world No. 1, has been playing at the top level for close to two decades, and Monday's win showed he is still dangerous in a three-set battle. Javi Barahona and Nacho Piotto also advanced, beating Italian wild cards Marco Cassetta and Fabian Oviedo, and David Gala and Enzo Jensen got past home favorites Giulio Graziotti and Simone Iacovino. The top seeds, including world No. 1 pair Arturo Coello and Agustin Tapia, do not start until midweek; Coello and Tapia are scheduled to open against Arnau Ayats and Emilio Chamero on Wednesday.

Salazar's farewell tour reaches Milan

Alejandra "Ale" Salazar opens Tuesday's schedule at 9:30 CEST, partnering Aranzazu Osoro against Alix Collombon and Ksenia Sharifova. Salazar, a four-time world No. 1 and the holder of 52 World Padel Tour titles, announced last year that 2026 would be her last season before she steps away from the tour to start a family. Tuesday also brings the debuts of the men's No. 5 through No. 8 seeds, along with defending champions Fede Chingotto and Alejandro Galan, who face Portuguese brothers Nuno and Miguel Deus later in the draw.

What's next

The Milano P1 runs through October 18 at the Allianz Cloud, with most of the seeded pairs, Coello and Tapia included, not in action until the middle of the week.