It's official: Alejandra Salazar and Tamara Icardo will form a team for next season, thus confirming the rumors that have been circulating for several days.
Moreover, Padel Magazine already announced this to you on December 1st.
The trio in front doesn't move...it moves behind!
While the first three 2023 women's pairs decided to continue together, the 4th and 5th world pairs indicated their separation almost at the same time, putting an end to the rumors which in this case came true.
After starting the season alongside Gemma Triay, Alejandra Salazar had to sit out due to an elbow injury. After her operation, she seemed ready to return to competition quickly. Except that Triay, who was initially supposed to wait for her and resume with her, ultimately preferred to continue with Marta Ortega.
Salazar will opt for the Portuguese Sofia Araujo. Rather positive results: four finals without winning a title. But we quickly understood that it was a default choice for the Spaniard despite some denials on this theme. At the end of the season, the two players announced their separation relatively quickly.
Same story for Tamara Icardo and Virginia Riera who also reached 3 finals (Alicante, Marbella and Mexico) but without achieving final victories in an event. The 5th world pair seemed to have achieved the objectives of the start of the season, however. But insufficient to allow this pair to continue, probably, because we cannot say no to Alejandra Salazar.
Two formerly injured together
If Alejandra Salazar had a complicated season cut short by an operation and a new partner with a player she did not know, in 2024, she will start with a player she knows much better and who knows the course of the struggle after a injury. The 38-year-old will be alongside Tamara Icardo. The 28-year-old shone alongside Delfi Brea 2 years ago before being stopped short in her progress by a wrist injury.
With the experience and support of Maxi Grabiel as coach, Salazar and Icardo have high hopes for this new union: “We are joining our paths for 2024. With a lot of desire and enthusiasm, we are starting this new project hand in hand. hand with Maxi Grabiel. We will work hard and give everything to be at our best.”
To conclude, we will note this rather atypical poster where the players' sponsors suddenly disappear. If we compare with the announcements of other players, the main sponsors are almost always highlighted... Will Salazar and/or Icardo change rackets in 2024?
Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.