This time, it was the last time.  Alejandra Salazar played her final professional tournament in Madrid , his city, on the occasion of Madrid Premier Padel P1. Defeated in the quarter-finals with  Aranza Osoro  by the world's number 1  Gemma Triay / Delfi Brea ,  6 / 3 6 / 3 The Madrid native received a long ovation from the Movistar Arena crowd.

One last time against his former partner

The scenario was bound to be something special. For his last match in Madrid, Salazar found himself on the other side of the net.  Gemma Triay with whom she shared one of the most significant periods of her career.

Together, the two Spanish women notably finished  world number 1 in 2021 and 2022 .

But once the match got underway, Triay and Brea didn't let their emotions get the better of them. The world number ones imposed their solidity against  Salazar / Osoro , yet they were being pushed on by the entire Movistar Arena.

Two controlled sets and a victory  6 / 3 6 / 3  which sends Triay/Brea to the semi-finals.

The emotion after match point

But the main point was almost elsewhere.

Once the last ball was played, the Madrid crowd rose to their feet to applaud.  one of the greatest players in the history of padel At 40, Salazar couldn't hold back her tears when she realized she had just played her last professional match in her hometown.

The emotion intensified even further at the net with a long embrace between  Salazar and Triay Two former partners, two world number 1s together, reunited one last time on the Madrid court, but this time on opposite sides of the net.

After the meeting, Triay confided that she had told him that she loved him and that this situation was causing her a lot of pain.  Delfi Brea  He, for his part, recalled the immense influence of Salazar, especially for all the right-wing players who grew up watching her play.

26 seasons at the highest level

This sequence marks a new stage in the farewell tour of a player who will be leaving the circuit for good.  at the end of the 2026 season , After  26 consecutive seasons at the highest level .

His track record demonstrates his longevity:  62 official titles, seven world championship titles and four seasons finished at the top of the world rankings , in 2009, 2016, 2021 and 2022, with three different partners.

Beyond the numbers, Salazar will have above all spanned several generations and accompanied the evolution of women's padel up to its current professionalization.

Madrid will say goodbye to him once again

His sporting adventure at Madrid P1 is over, but  Alejandra Salazar will return to the track one last time on Sunday . Premier Padel a special tribute will be paid to him between the two finals.

A final opportunity for Madrid to celebrate a player who has made padel history and who, after more than two decades at the top, has just turned  his last page at home .

Benjamin Dupouy

I discovered padel directly during a tournament, and frankly, I didn't really like it at first. But the second time, it was love at first sight, and since then, I haven't missed a single match. I'm even ready to stay up until 3am to watch a final of Premier Padel !

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