FIP Bronze: French reach semi-finals

Saturday on the FIP Tour belonged to the French colours: at FIP Bronze Rijswijk in the Netherlands and in parallel at FIP Bronze Pembroke in Malta, several Tricolore pairs reached the semi-finals after strong quarter-finals. While the men in Rijswijk guarantee at least one Frenchman in the final, the biggest surprise of the day came in the women's draw with Léa Godallier's early exit.

Godallier misses the semi-finals in Rijswijk

Léa Godallier and her Spanish partner Ariadna Cañellas Rodero were top favourites in the women's field as the number one seeds. In the quarter-finals against Belgians Justine Pysson and Hélène Boeykens they opened with a clear 6-2 in the first set, then lost control of the rallies and fell 6-2, 3-6, 2-6. For a pair targeting the title, the tournament ends far earlier than expected.

Pysson and Boeykens used their momentum phase consistently: they increased pressure at the net, varied lobs and forced errors from Godallier and Cañellas Rodero at key moments. The defeat marks a clear break in form for the top seeds, while the Belgians advance to the semi-finals as a genuine tournament story.

Sireix and De Vocht seize the opening

The positive counter-move came from Camille Sireix and Belgium's Tess De Vocht. As the fourth seeds they dominated their quarter-final against Lena Plümer and Katharina Hering 6-4, 6-4, showing the blend of baseline calm and net aggression typical of successful FIP Bronze weekends.

In the semi-finals Sireix and De Vocht now face exactly Pysson and Boeykens—the pair that knocked out the favourites. A high-class clash between two in-form doubles awaits, with the French player again able to shape the title race.

Men in Rijswijk: semi-final guarantees a French finalist

In the men's draw in the Netherlands at least one Frenchman is assured of the final. Bastien Blanqué and Yoan Boronad won a dramatic three-set thriller against Javier Rico and Mohamed Alami 7-6, 6-7, 6-2, showing mental strength especially in the decider. In parallel Dylan Guichard and Italy's Marco Cassetta, the second seeds, confirmed their status with 6-3, 6-4 against Tomas Dos Santos and Yannick Verwater.

Because both French pairs meet in the semi-finals, an all-French men's final in Rijswijk is impossible—but neither is a final without Tricolore involvement. For French padel that means strong presence at international Bronze level and a week where domestic rivals fight each other for the title.

Seurin and Luque stay on track

Julien Seurin continued his impressive run. With Portugal's Antonio Luque they beat Kai Groen and Mats Groen in the quarter-finals convincingly 7-5, 6-0. The Franco-Portuguese pair looked more structured on serve from the start and used early breaks to give their opponents little comeback room.

The semi-final brings José Rico and Juan Cruz Forastello—one of the steadiest remaining pairs in the draw. Seurin aims to keep a second French final option open alongside the other men and possibly even resolve the title race internally if Guichard or Blanqué win the other semi-final.

Hugounenq shines at FIP Bronze Pembroke

In Malta Arthur Hugounenq becomes the only Frenchman in the men's semi-finals. With José Manuel Ortiz they beat fifth seeds Octavio Alvarez and Vinny Nahuel Di Francesco in three sets 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. The last set underlined the pair's tournament maturity: after falling behind in the second they held their nerve and targeted attacks off the glass in the decider.

The semi-final brings top seeds José Solano and Ramiro Pereyra. Hugounenq has a chance to crown his best FIP Bronze week of the season with another upset—even though the task against the favoured Spaniards remains huge.

Soubrié and Ligi narrowly miss the Malta semi-finals

In the women's draw in Pembroke Charlotte Soubrié and Fiona Ligi delivered the most gripping fight of the day against Julia Polo Bautista and Marina Lobo. Against the top seeds they led after the first set 6-1, took a 2-6 in the second and lost the decider 6-4. A semi-final berth looked within reach for a long time, but the favourites' experience made the difference in the closing rallies.

Despite defeat Soubrié and Ligi confirm they can compete with the best pairs internationally. For French women's padel it is a mixed Saturday: strong signals, but only one men's semi-final ticket in Malta.

Outlook for Sunday

With Camille Sireix, Bastien Blanqué, Yoan Boronad, Dylan Guichard, Julien Seurin and Arthur Hugounenq, six French players remain in the semi-finals across both events. Sunday can deliver several tricolore duels and decide whether, alongside the guaranteed men's presence in Rijswijk, a title in Malta also goes to France. FIP Bronze fans face a weekend packed with top-level matches.