FIP Bronze: Guichard in final, Hugounenq out

On Sunday, the FIP Tour semi-finals were decided at two Bronze events: the FIP Bronze Rijswijk in the Netherlands and the FIP Bronze Pembroke in Malta featured numerous French players on court. After the semi-final round, only Dylan Guichard remains in the men's final in Rijswijk—while Camille Sireix, Julien Seurin and Arthur Hugounenq missed out on the title, they still sent strong sporting signals.

Women in Rijswijk: favourites stumble in the third set

In the women's draw, Camille Sireix and Belgium's Tess De Vocht had a major chance to reach the final after a strong tournament run. Against Belgians Justine Pyson and Helene Boeykens, the match started well: the Franco-Belgian pair won the first set on a tie-break and controlled rallies at the net and baseline for long stretches.

But Pyson and Boeykens, who had already beaten top seeds Léa Godallier and Ariadna Cañellas Rodero in the quarter-finals, showed their tournament form again. After losing the opening set on a tie-break, they turned the match around completely and won 6-7, 6-2, 6-2. They advance to the final as surprise finalists and confirm a week in which they consistently showed nerve against higher-ranked opponents.

For Sireix and De Vocht, defeat is bitter because they held a genuine title favourite role in their half of the draw. Technical errors in key phases of the second and third sets, plus improved returning from their opponents, made the difference. Sportingly, the pair had played at a high level until the semi-finals and remain a relevant duo on the FIP Tour.

Guichard and Cassetta dominate the all-French clash

In the men's draw, the first semi-final offered an all-French clash at top Bronze level. Dylan Guichard and Italian Marco Cassetta, seeded second, faced Bastien Blanqué and Yoan Boronad. From the start, Guichard and Cassetta set the pace, varied lobs and bandejas and gave their opponents little room on serve.

They reached the final with a clear 6-1, 6-4 win. Guichard underlines his current form curve: in recent weeks the Frenchman has posted deep runs and shows against domestic rivals like Blanqué that he makes the better decisions when it matters. Cassetta adds experience and solid net play, making the pair competitive against international top fields.

Seurin and Luque miss an all-French final

The second men's semi-final could have set up an all-French final. Julien Seurin and Portugal's Antonio Luque led José Rico and Juan Cruz Forastello after the first set 6-4 and even took an early break in the decider. But the Spaniards reacted at the right moment, neutralised the pressure and won 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 in the tie-break.

For Seurin and Luque it was one of the most frustrating losses of the season with the final within reach. Nerves and a few unforced errors in decisive rallies hurt them in the third set. Rico and Forastello showed typical FIP experience: they stayed calm after falling behind, raised intensity on return and took their chances in the tie-break.

Rijswijk final: Guichard meets Rico and Forastello

The men's final in Rijswijk pairs Dylan Guichard and Marco Cassetta with José Rico and Juan Cruz Belluati Forastello. The match is scheduled on the centre court from 17:30 at the earliest—a sign of the final's importance in the local calendar. Guichard targets his first Bronze title of this season phase; Rico and Forastello aim to confirm a strong weekend after their semi-final comeback.

• Men's final: Guichard/Cassetta vs Rico/Forastello, centre court from 17:30.
• Women's final: Pyson/Boeykens after comeback against Sireix/De Vocht.
• Several French players in both events, but only Guichard reaches the men's final in Rijswijk.

Malta: Hugounenq falls to the top seeds

In parallel, the men's semi-finals were played at FIP Bronze Pembroke in Malta. Arthur Hugounenq and Spaniard José Manuel Ortiz faced top seeds José Solano and Ramiro Pereyra. After an extremely tight first set lost on a tie-break, Hugounenq and Ortiz kept fighting in the second but fell 7-6, 6-3.

Despite the semi-final loss, Hugounenq's balance sheet is positive. The pair had beaten the fifth seeds in the quarter-finals, showing they can compete and upset favourites on the international stage. The Malta semi-final confirms the Frenchman's rising FIP Tour form—even though there will be no French final in Pembroke.

Together with the Rijswijk results, French padel stays prominent on the FIP Tour: Guichard carries the biggest title chance in the Netherlands, while Hugounenq, Seurin and Sireix send strong semi-final signals.