Ari Sánchez herself admits she's not going through the best period of her career. Yet, her influence on Andrea Ustero is becoming increasingly clear. At Roland-Garros, the former world number one didn't just hold her own on the court: she reassured, guided, and freed up her young partner, ultimately allowing her to unleash her full power in the semi-final. 

A less dominant Ari Sánchez, but still just as important

"I don't think I'm at my best in padel."

Ari Sánchez's statement after her Paris Major quarter-final match contrasts sharply with the usual discourse of top players. The Spaniard makes no attempt to hide the difficulties she has faced since partnering with Andrea Ustero. She acknowledges that she is currently in a different phase, within a project that is still under construction.

But the performance of a player like Ari isn't measured solely by the number of winning points or the speedy shots that land in the net. Her role seems to have changed. Less dominant than during her partnership with Paula Josemaría, she has become the stabilizing force in a pairing where Ustero must gradually assume more responsibility.

Ari may not always shine individually. But she is increasingly allowing her partner to shine.

In the quarter-final, Ustero admitted to having mentally lost focus.

The quarter-final victory against Alejandra Salazar and Aranza Osoro,  6/3 3/6 6/2 This constitutes a first revealing example.

After a dominant first set, Ustero gradually lost her way. The young Spaniard admitted after the match that her mind had wandered at times in the second set. Troubled by the way the match was unfolding and less comfortable in her own half of the court, she was no longer able to play with the same freedom.

It was at this point that Ari Sánchez and coach Ángel González became essential players. Ustero recounted that his partner kept telling him to  "Playing freely" , because she knew that this freedom was essential to expressing her best padel.

The advice seems simple, but it reveals a true understanding of her partner. Ari didn't try to demand more control from a player already paralyzed by pressure. On the contrary, she gave her permission to take risks again.

Ustero found more freedom in the decisive set, and the pair managed to regain control. It would be an exaggeration to attribute the victory solely to Ari's intervention, but Ustero's comments directly confirm the importance of his support.

In the semi-final, Ari stabilizes and Ustero strikes

The scenario was repeated, in another form, in the semi-final against Marta Ortega and Sofia Araújo.

Sánchez and Ustero lost the first set  7/5 The young left-hander was still struggling to get fully into the match and made several mistakes. On the other side, Ortega provided a lot of control, while Araújo took advantage of the relatively fast conditions to impose her power.

The game then gradually changed.

Ustero began to find better positions and play much more aggressively. His striking ability, particularly on par 3s, pushed his opponents back and allowed him to take an increasing part in both building and finishing points.

During this build-up, Ari Sánchez provided the foundation. She held her diagonal, reduced errors, and kept the pair in a structure stable enough for her partner to continue attacking without feeling the need to nail every shot.

Sánchez–Ustero won the second round  6/4 before unfolding in the third,  6/1 Ustero had then become the pair's main offensive force. Ari, on the other hand, didn't necessarily need to occupy all the spotlight: her control gave her partner the space she needed to express herself.

Paris Major – Sánchez / Ustero in the final: “We are both rowing in the same direction”

Ustero's power needs security

Andrea Ustero already possesses a natural ability to accelerate and finish points. But power can only become a consistent weapon if the player feels secure enough to accept mistakes.

This is perhaps Ari Sánchez's main contribution.

When Ustero played with Alejandra Alonso, the two players were still at a similar stage of their development. With Ari, the situation is different. One is gradually discovering the demands of the highest level; the other is experiencing finals, the pressure of rankings, and periods when her game isn't as strong.

Ustero herself acknowledges that playing with such an experienced partner represents a significant change and helps her to show a more liberated version of her padel.

This security doesn't mean Ari should only defend and return the ball. Her ability to vary her game, move opponents, and control the pace remains essential. But she also accepts that power and finishing often come from the other half of the court.

It sometimes takes a lot of trust to let your partner become the most spectacular player in the duo.

A new leadership for Ari Sánchez

For several seasons, Ari Sánchez was judged by her titles, finals appearances, and world number 1 ranking. Her partnership with Ustero reveals another facet: that of a player capable of nurturing the development of immense potential.

This influence is not always apparent in the statistics. It is found in an instruction repeated at the right time, in a diagonal held without rushing, or in the ability to prevent the pair from becoming disorganized when the partner goes through a bad sequence.

The Paris Major final against Claudia Fernández and Martina Calvo will be another test. Ustero will once again have to shoulder a large part of the offensive load. But to be able to shoot freely, she will need to feel that Ari Sánchez is holding the entire structure together behind her.

At Roland-Garros, Ustero impressed with her power. And if she was able to gradually free up her arm, it was probably not unrelated to the presence, patience, and stability of her partner.

Antoine Tricolet

I discovered the Padel I stumbled into Spain at a campsite. I was instantly hooked; passionate about padel, I follow international and regional news with the same excitement as the sport itself.

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