Javier Zabala clinches semifinal berth in the Cuatro y Medio championship
Javier Zabala secured his place in the semifinals of the Cuatro y Medio championship for the second year, overcoming years of struggles within the tournament’s tight confines. The Riojan professional reached the milestone following wins in the preliminary group stage, establishing his position as a serious contender for the coveted txapela.
For Zabala, the semifinal qualification marks a definitive turning point in a career that once saw him falter when closing out matches. After turning professional with Aspe in 2019 over competing interest from Baiko, the Riojan pelotari spent four years playing the Serie B, reaching the semifinals just once. In 2021, of again in the traditional format, he won his three quarterfinal group stage matches against Salaberria (22-12), Bakaikoa (22-12) and Alberdi (22-11) before losing in the semifinals against Zubizarreta III at the Adarraga (22-17). That defeat hurt him and subsequently he yielded against Alberdi II in Azpeitia by 22-14 and against Peña II at the Adarraga by 22-20. Early matches in the top tier brought harsh lessons, notably a 22-7 defeat against Elordi where conceded service points exposed his vulnerabilities inside the frontón.
Finding a rhythm inside the cage
The transformation in Zabala’s game took root during the San Fermín Cuatro y Medio tournament, where he reached the final before falling 22-20 to Peña II after leading 7-16 and 17-19. In that 2025 San Fermín cuatro y medio he defeated Darío 22-7 in Segura, Altuna III 22-19 in Mungia and Peio Etxeberria 22-13 in the semifinals at the Atano in one of my best performances within the cage,
he acknowledged. According to his comments, a tactical adjustment unlocked his current form. Instead of constantly extending his arm on difficult shots, Zabala began playing with a tighter arm, improving his service returns and generating higher pace.
Hand injuries frequently interrupted his progress, forcing him to miss the 2023 edition and halting his Serie B campaign after an opening loss to Bakaikoa. Having ironed out those physical issues, Zabala carried his momentum into the main Cuatro y Medio tournament, where he reached the final last year against Peio Etxeberria before dropping a 22-11 decision at the Bizkaia frontón.
The group stage tests ahead of the knockout rounds
Zabala stamped his ticket to the current tournament’s knockout phase by defeating Altuna III 22-15 and overcoming Peña II 22-17. These victories against established tournament favorites underline how thoroughly the Riojan has adapted to the demanding pace of the shorter distance.
He will close out the group phase on Saturday against Laso. Because Zabala has already secured his passage to the semifinals, the weekend fixture carries no mathematical implications for his standing in the group table, though it offers a final competitive test before the elimination rounds begin.
Worth a look
