At just 17 and 18 years old, Andrea Ustero Prieto et Alejandra Alonso De Villa dream of competing in the prestigious Final Master Premier Padel, which will be held in Barcelona from 19 at 22 decemberTo do this, the two young Spaniards will have to shine at the end of the season, and in particular Alonso, who is still looking for the points needed to rise among the 16 best players in the world.
A battle for the last places
Already ranked 14th in the world, Andrea Ustero is in a strong position to secure her place. On the other hand, her teammate Alejandra Alonso, currently ranked 19th, must make up a micro gap of 83 point on the 16th, Zazu Osoro. The fight promises to be fierce between Osoro, Riera, Icardo et Alonso, with a single objective: to grab the last available places (and even the only place: 16th).
The situation is more comfortable for Jessica Castelló Virseda, who seems to have secured her ticket thanks to her lead of almost 1000 point. Conversely, Laura Guinart, 20th in the ranking with 1988 point, is out of the race. The step is simply too high to get back to the front quartor.
Ustero: “Roland-Garros, an unforgettable moment”
For Andrea Ustero, this season marks a remarkable rise. The young player has played her first final in the professional circuit this year, in the prestigious setting of Roland-Garros. A memory forever engraved in his mind:
« For my first final to be at Roland Garros was incredible. I grew up watching Rafael Nadal play there. Walking through those corridors, seeing the legends’ boards, playing on Centre Court… it was unreal. »
Teamed up with Delfina Brea for the occasion, Ustero was able to rely on her partner's experience to manage the pressure:
« A first final inevitably creates stress, but Delfi reassured me a lot. Without her, I would have been much more nervous. »
Barcelona, a turning point for two young stars
Andrea Ustero has confirmed that the duo intends to give their all to make their dream come true.
« We will try to get some big results at the end of the season to see if Alejandra and I can participate together in the Barcelona Masters. »
With their talent and determination, Ustero and Alonso have proven that they have their place among the best. But for now, every game is a final. Barcelona may be waiting for them, but the road is still strewn with pitfalls.
Sources / Credits: LaChiquitaPadel / Carlota Palma / Premier Padel
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.