FIP Platinum Tirana: Gala/Jensen in semis

The men's draw at the FIP Platinum Tirana in Albania continues to deliver surprises. After their upset in the round of 16 against Jon Sanz and Coki Nieto, David Gala and Enzo Jensen struck again in the quarterfinals and extended their strong week in Tirana. At the same time, Martín Di Nenno and Jairo Bautista secured a semifinal spot with a controlled win over Edu Alonso and Aimar Goñi. In the women's draw, the top seeds largely held their expected level.

Gala and Jensen keep the surprise run going

The story of the Spanish duo Gala and Jensen is one of the defining themes of this event. A day earlier, they had already caused a stir with their win over Sanz and Nieto. Against the seventh-seeded pair Alex Ruiz and Juanlu Esbri, they once again had to go the full distance and again showed composure on the main court in Tirana.

After losing the first set 4:6, Gala and Jensen raised the pressure in the decisive rallies. They played more aggressively in key moments, consistently pushed long exchanges, and turned the match around with 6:3 and 6:4. That puts them in the semifinals and confirms their form in Tirana is built on consistent tactics and physical resilience, not just a short burst.

Character after falling behind

Their mental stability after dropping the opener stood out. While Ruiz and Esbri controlled the early phase, Gala and Jensen found better solutions at the net and in defense in the second set. In long rallies, they looked clearer about when to increase pace and when to wait for the opponent's mistake. Their band choices and lob placement also looked far more targeted in the decisive phases than earlier in the week.

For the tournament, that means a non-top-seeded pair remains in contention and can keep shaking up the field. For Gala and Jensen, the next step is a chance to confirm their momentum against one of the remaining favorite teams and extend the biggest surprise of this FIP Platinum so far.

Di Nenno and Bautista deliver a composed quarterfinal

In the upper half of the men's draw, Martín Di Nenno and Jairo Bautista produced a performance as disciplined as in the previous round. Against Alonso and Goñi, who had gained confidence in recent weeks, the fourth-seeded pair stayed calm in critical phases and did not let the resistance throw them off rhythm.

The first set went to a tiebreak and ended 7:6 for Di Nenno and Bautista. In the second, they kept the same line, maintained return pressure, and closed out 7:5. They reach the semifinals without unnecessary drama and look clearly more settled, which matters for their title ambitions in Tirana.

Control in the key moments

The difference was less about spectacular winners and more about consistent play in break opportunities. Di Nenno and Bautista used their experience in tight sets, avoided unnecessary risks, and stayed structured even after the narrow tiebreak in the opener. For a pair that had not always looked consistently at top level recently, that is an important signal ahead of the decisive tournament days and shows they can apply their strengths in long rallies and on return.

Women's favorites stay on track

In the women's draw, the quarterfinal day was far more predictable. The top seeds confirmed their role and prevented further upsets in the upper bracket, while tension remains high on the men's side with open matches.

Tournament leaders Alejandra Salazar and Alejandra Alonso dominated their match against Bidaorria and Caparros with 6:3 and 6:4. The top-seeded pair looked focused from the start and wants to regain confidence in Tirana after a difficult stretch on the Premier Padel circuit and defend their favorite status through to the final.

Also without major swings, Caldera and Goenaga advanced against tournament surprise Rodriguez and Dal Pozzo with 6:2 and 6:3. That keeps the expected names in focus in the women's field, while two men's quarterfinals are still pending and the semifinal picture remains incomplete.

Two men's quarterfinals still to come

Not all semifinalists are known yet in the men's main draw. Two high-level matches remain open and could reshape the tournament picture and strongly influence the outcome of this FIP Platinum.

On one side, in-form pair Chozas and Libaak face Arce and Arroyo, also strong since the start of the event. On the other, top seeds Stupaczuk and Yanguas meet González and Campagnolo. Both fixtures are seen as potential classics and could reorder the semifinal lineup once the remaining quarterfinals are completed.

• Men: Gala/Jensen reach the semifinals after a comeback against Ruiz/Esbri, 4:6 6:3 6:4.
• Men: Di Nenno/Bautista beat Alonso/Goñi 7:6 7:5.
• Women: Salazar/Alonso and Caldera/Goenaga advance convincingly.
• Open: Chozas/Libaak vs Arce/Arroyo and Stupaczuk/Yanguas vs González/Campagnolo.

With these results, the FIP Platinum Tirana remains a high-tempo event: an outsider pair keeps mixing in on the men's side, while the women's favorites hold their line and the remaining quarterfinals will complete the semifinal pairings.