Nothing was easy yesterday for Gemma Triay and Delfi Brea, who had to fight hard to reach the semi-finals of the Milan P1. Opposed to Tamara Icardo and Marta Ortega, seeded 5, the world number 1s had a nightmarish start to the match before turning the tide with the self-sacrifice for which they are known.

The first set turned into a demonstration for the players of Juani Mieres, which inflicted a 6/1 express in 20 minutes. Physically affected, Gemma Triay struggled to find its rhythm, and everything seemed to indicate a complicated outcome for the Spanish-Argentine duo. But as is often the case, the champions knew how to respond. Like true bosses, they stuck with a 6/1 in the second set, before concluding 6/3 in the third, carried by a Heroic Delfi Brea, who literally took the match on his shoulders.

“Today, we made do with what we had.”

In the post-match conference, the Minorcan did not hide her physical difficulties:

“The truth is that the effort was enormous. Thanks to my partner, Rodri, and the whole team. I only had a few hours to recover, but that's how it is. There's a lot of traveling, a lot of tournaments, and some weeks it's your turn. Today was mine. I'm very happy with the commitment we showed.”

Tired but lucid, Gemma greeted the solidarity of the duo :

“I think we always tried to row together and not blame each other. Today we did what we had. It certainly wasn't our best match, but this victory against Martita and Tamara means a lot.”

A number 1 mentality

Once again, Triay and Brea have proven why they dominate the padel world. Even in their weaknesses, they know how to come back from far away, adapt to contexts and transform pain into strength.

More rises to the challenge today will be of a completely different caliber : they will find their old partners, Bea González and Claudia Fernández, seeded 3, a pair that has already beaten them several times this season.

It remains to be seen if Gemma Triay will have had time to recover fully for this clash. The answer today, on Milan's central court.

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 !

On the same subject

Tags