Valence P1: Leygue and Huete in qualification

While the Italy Major in Rome enters its decisive phase, the Premier Padel circuit is already looking ahead to the next stop of the season. This Saturday, qualification matches for the Valence P1 begin in Spain. The focus is on France's number one Thomas Leygue, who aims to reach the main draw alongside Mario Huete.

Leygue starts in Valencia with a new partner

The Frenchman will compete in Valencia alongside Spaniard Mario Huete. For both players, qualification is about securing a direct path into the Valence P1 main draw. Leygue, who impressed repeatedly in recent weeks, now wants to confirm that run at one of the most important events of the spring season.

Huete is not unknown to Leygue. Both have already played together on court. In a sport where timing and mutual understanding often decide victory or defeat, that familiarity can be a major advantage in the early tournament phase.

Encouraging weeks on the international circuit

Thomas Leygue arrives in Valencia with clear momentum. Alongside Italian Aris Patiniotis, he reached the final of the FIP Bronze Castellón and showed he can maintain a consistently high level over several rounds. At the Italy Major in Rome, the pair fell only in the final qualification round, just short of the main draw.

That narrow defeat in Rome shows how close the Frenchman already is to the top group. For Valencia, it means Leygue arrives not as an outsider, but as a player who can stay competitive in tight matches. The Valence P1 as a Premier Padel P1 event gives him the stage to confirm that form at the highest level.

The move from the FIP circuit through qualification in Rome to the Valence P1 highlights the clear ambition Leygue is pursuing in this phase of the season. While Castellón was an important development step, Valencia is about points, visibility and a direct comparison with pairs who regularly compete at the front of the tour.

Reunion with Mario Huete and Casa Padel

For qualification, Leygue now relies on Mario Huete. Both know each other from the Casa Padel environment and already share court experience. Defensive automatisms and trust in critical rallies can make the difference in a qualification tournament when there is little time to find rhythm.

Thanks to their combined ranking, Leygue and Huete enter as the sixth seeds in the qualification draw. That position reduces the risk of early meetings with top favorites, but offers no free pass. In the qualification of a P1 event, the level is already high in the opening rounds.

As France's best player in the field, Leygue also carries a certain expectation into the match. Yet that pressure fits his recent development: in recent weeks he has shown he can take responsibility and remain present in important matches.

First opponents: Rivero and De Astoreca

In their opening match, Leygue and Huete face Argentinians Mateo Rivero and Joaquín De Astoreca. Argentine pairs are considered technically strong and competitive, so this tie should not be underestimated. The victor earns a decisive match for a place in the main draw.

Leygue and Huete must set clear structures from the start, build early pressure at the net and avoid giving away tempo in long rallies. Whoever takes the initiative often holds the decisive edge in qualification matches.

Schedule and goal in Valencia

The first match is scheduled for Saturday in the sixth rotation at 9 a.m. on the center court. That central placement underlines the interest in the clash and marks the official start of the Leygue-Huete mission in Valencia. Beyond the result itself, observers will also watch how the new pair performs under tournament pressure.

Saturday's order of play also shows how tightly packed the qualification schedule is. Alongside Leygue and Huete, numerous other pairs compete for a place in the main draw. In such an environment, not only performance matters, but also the ability to refocus immediately on the next challenge.

For Thomas Leygue, the goal is clear: he wants to confirm that his recent form is no short-term spike and fight his way into the Valence P1 main draw together with Mario Huete. After Castellón and the narrow exit in Rome, the next test now awaits on the big Premier Padel stage.