Tournaments / Match reports

Guichard reaches FIP Silver Porto final

Recorded on Jul 27, 2026

Dylan Guichard remains on course at the FIP Silver Porto. Together with his Belgian partner Clément Geens, the Frenchman has qualified for the final after another three-set win against the Portuguese duo Pedro Araujo and Pedro Graca. The scoreline: 6-3, 1-6 and 6-3. The Franco-Belgian pair thus continues its strong tournament week and stands before another final opportunity on the international FIP Silver circuit.

Semi-final duel under home pressure

The match against Araujo and Graca was anything but straightforward for Guichard and Geens. The Portuguese played in front of their home crowd and used the support of the spectators to build pressure. Already in the quarter-finals, Guichard and Geens had to stage a comeback against Victor Tur and Agustin Reca. In the semi-final, the pattern of a tight, hard-fought encounter repeated itself, demanding composure and adaptability.

Guichard and Geens started strongly. They took the first set 6-3 and sent a clear message. The Portuguese responded decisively and raised their level in the second set. With a clear 6-1, Araujo and Graca levelled the match and forced the Franco-Belgian duo into a decisive third set. In this phase it became clear how much the home crowd pushed the local favourites and how important concentration remained in the key moments.

Decision in the third set

In the intense deciding set, Guichard and Geens regained control. They played with discipline, exploited opponents' errors and set clear priorities at the net and from the baseline. Winning 6-3, they booked their place in the final. The victory underlines the pair's ability to restructure matches after setbacks and to deliver a better conversion rate on break points and return games in critical phases.

The compactness of the partnership was especially striking. Guichard brought pace and variety, while Geens stabilized the defence and ensured clear communication on lobs and smashes. Against a motivated home team, that balance proved decisive. The three-set battle also shows that at FIP Silver level every set must be hard-earned, even without an absolute top-favourite role.

Second FIP Silver title in sight

For Guichard, the final in Porto is already the next major step in a strong phase of the season. The Frenchman is aiming for his second title on the FIP Silver circuit this year. In June he had already won in Palermo, confirming his form. Another trophy in Portugal would not only strengthen his individual ranking but also further consolidate the partnership with Geens.

On paper, Guichard and Geens are favourites for the final – regardless of who emerges from the other semi-final. Possible opponents are, on the one hand, the No. 5 seeds Ramiro Pereyra and Juan Zamora Perez, and on the other the No. 4 seeds Octavio Alvarez and Diego Garcia Garcia. Both pairs bring tournament experience and offensive qualities, so the final promises high intensity whichever pairing it is.

Guichard/Geens defeat Araujo/Graca 6-3, 1-6, 6-3
Final berth after a hard-fought quarter-final against Tur/Reca
Possible second FIP Silver title of the season after success in Palermo
Final opponents either Pereyra/Zamora Perez or Alvarez/Garcia Garcia

Sporting context in Porto

The FIP Silver Porto is among the established stops on the international calendar and regularly attracts strong pairs from Europe and Latin America. For Portuguese players such as Araujo and Graca, the home tournament is a special opportunity to impress in front of their own crowd. Forcing Guichard and Geens into a third set underlines the competitiveness of the local scene and the standing of the event in Porto.

For the Franco-Belgian duo, the week so far is proof of consistency. After the quarter-final win came the semi-final success under difficult conditions. The ability to dominate the first set, lose the second clearly and win the third again clearly speaks to mental strength and tactical flexibility. Exactly those qualities will be required again in the final.

Outlook for the final

Regardless of the final opponent, an aggressive but controlled game plan should help Guichard and Geens. Early breaks, clean volleys and a solid return game against strong serves count among the key points. Pereyra and Zamora Perez often bring high shot speed and pressure on the glass. Alvarez and Garcia Garcia are considered experienced and hard to knock out of rhythm. In both scenarios, court communication and the error rate in long rallies will be decisive.

For Guichard himself, Porto is a chance to improve his season record further and confirm the form shown in Palermo. For Geens, the final is an opportunity to remain visible as a partner on the international stage and collect further ranking points. The tournament in Portugal thus offers not only sporting tension but also ranking relevance within the FIP system.

Spectators in Porto can expect an intense final. Guichard and Geens have shown throughout the week that they can turn matches around and stay calm in decisive phases. With the semi-final win against the home duo, the first major step is done. Now it is about the title – and the chance to add another line to their 2026 success record on the FIP Silver circuit.

Kevin Ishikawa (KI)

AI-supported processing of training, technique and tactics for padel. The model was specifically trained on drill descriptions, coaching analysis, movement patterns and strategic match situations; it has processed a large amount of content on serve, return, bandeja/víbora, positioning and doubles communication. It turns coaching content into clear steps, highlights common mistakes and provides practical explanations for different skill levels.

Location of the event

Country Portugal

City Porto