1 de diciembre de 2025
What is the Secret to Their Success?
Last night, the final Major of the season concluded: the strongest players on the planet gathered in Acapulco to determine the ultimate champions of the year.
The men's final was exactly what everyone was hoping for. The season leaders, Arturo Coello and Agustín Tapia, met their main challengers, Alejandro Galán and Federico Chingotto, for the 13th time this year. Before the match, the head-to-head score for the year was 8-4 in favor of the "Golden Boys."
However, they could not be called undisputed favorites: Galán and Chingotto had an excellent two months, winning 3 of their last 5 finals. Moreover, a defeat in this match would have deprived them of even the mathematical chance to catch up with the leaders in the final ranking.
The final was nervous and tense, featuring a dramatic tie-break, but Arturo and Agustín once again showed their champion character—they defended their title and prematurely guaranteed themselves the number one spot in the 2025 world ranking.
Amidst the fierce competition in modern elite padel, the dominance of 23-year-old Spaniard Coello and 26-year-old Argentinian Tapia looks truly phenomenal. What is their secret? Let's try to understand.
💪 Physical Attributes
Arturo's height is 190 cm and Agustín's is 179 cm. Together, this makes them the tallest pair in the Top 20, surpassed only by the newly formed duo of Lebrón–Augsburger (184 and 190 cm). Furthermore, Coello is not only the tallest left-hander on the tour but also the tallest player on the right side of the court overall.
What advantage does this give them?
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The ability to attack balls that others simply cannot reach.
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Colossal court coverage due to their long strides and arm span (especially at the net when closing the distance).
Add to this Arturo's left-handedness, and you get a constant threat of attack down the middle from both sides.
🧠 Discipline and Mentality
Both athletes grew up in modest families and know the value of hardship well. There was a time in Arturo's life when his mother faced a choice: give up work for his training or quit sports for a stable income. Coello swore he could provide for his family through padel—and he kept his word. Agustín also repeatedly emphasizes that family support shaped him as a player.
Despite their youth, high incomes, and the temptations of celebrity life, this pair is an example of professional discipline: a strict regime, no nightlife, only training and recovery. They trust each other completely, bound not only by professional but also by friendly relations—a crucial factor in a doubles sport.
Another component of their success is iron emotional control. Quiet and modest, they barely express emotions on the court and maintain 100% concentration throughout the match.
💥 Challenging the Norms
The main reason for their dominance is the revolution they have introduced to the game itself. The classic model of a successful pair looked like this:
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A fast defender on the right "builds" the point.
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A tall athlete on the left finishes the attacks with smashes.
The exit from defense is via a high lob ("globo"); maintaining the net on the right is via the bandeja.
But with the champions, everything is different.
Arturo Coello is the most attacking right-side player in history. When he is pushed back by a lob, he doesn't try to just return the ball—he immediately finishes the point with a smash. He uses the bandeja extremely rarely. If the lob is too deep, he responds with his signature "bajada de pared"—a powerful shot off the back glass that often results in a direct winner.
Agustín Tapia is an all-rounder with no weak spots. Many stars have one or two signature shots: Chingotto's lob, Stupaczuk's rulo, Gutiérrez's víbora, Campagnolo's bajada. With Tapia, all shots are signature shots. He is equally good in defense and attack, with lobs and drop shots, everywhere. For his incredible imagination and creativity on the court, he was nicknamed "Mozart," but he reminds me more of an orchestra capable of playing any score.
🏹 Bold Tactics
The textbooks teach that in key moments (tie-break, score 7-8), you should play as reliably as possible. But Coello and Tapia do the opposite: precisely in these moments, they act boldly and provocatively, intentionally challenging the opponent. This is not recklessness, but a carefully developed plan for instantly translating defense into attack, unsettling and provoking the opponents, which is extremely difficult to withstand.
By returning the first serve with a lob (up to 70% in some matches), Tapia essentially declares the opponent's serve ineffective and immediately shifts the game into a counter-attack.
Arturo plays so high up at the net that any beginner's coach would be horrified. But for him, it is part of the strategy. He forces opponents to play lobs and punishes them every time with a lethal attack.
❓ Are They Invincible?
In the near future, most likely, yes. Galán and Chingotto are capable of putting up a fight, but mainly on slow courts, where the low bounce neutralizes some of Coello and Tapia's attacking advantages.
Many are trying to copy their attacking style, but perhaps only Lebrón and Augsburger—a powerful new pair, but currently unstable—will be able to truly compete.
The organizers have already announced possible rule changes for the next season, perhaps specifically to make the title race more even and slightly reduce the duo's dominance. Well, that will make the next 2026 season even more interesting to watch.