They won their first title together in Asuncion and are now one of the most promising pairs on the circuit. Premier Padel. Bea Gonzalez et Claudia fernandez, nicknamed the “young rockets” of world padel, arrive in Rome with ambition and serenity, ready to face one of the most demanding tournaments of the season: the BNL Italy Major Premier Padel.

An explosive first half of the season

Since joining forces at the beginning of the year, Gonzalez and Fernandez have been putting in a string of solid performances. Finalists at Riyadh, semi-finalists at Miami et Brussels, they especially made an impression by winning the P2 of Asuncion, becoming the youngest pair in history to lift a trophy on the tour Premier Padel.

If the season has not been a long, quiet river — Bea having had to deal with some physical problems — the two players approach Rome with enthusiasm. "I was so excited to come back here. The Italian crowd is supporting us, it's an incredible atmosphere," Bea confided during the media day at Foro Italico. "Last year I missed this tournament and it left a bitter taste in my mouth. This time I want to fight until the end... and enjoy some good Italian food!" she adds with a smile.

Complicity and pleasure of playing

Their success is based as much on their level of play as on the relationships they build every day. “What I like most right now is that I’m really enjoying myself on the court. We work hard to achieve our goals, but we never lose sight of the importance of having fun,” explains Bea, now world No. 7.

The two young women have a long history of bonding. "We've known each other since our junior years, and we used to play together in the world championships," she says. "Now we're five years older... and Claudia just got her driver's license!" she jokes.

Claudia, a surprising maturity

At only 19 years, Claudia fernandez embodies this new generation of players ready to shake up the hierarchy. She owes a lot to her past experience alongside Gemma Triay, one of the references of the circuit: "Playing with Gemma taught me how to manage moments of pressure in semi-finals or finals. It gave me confidence, and today I feel very good with Bea. I hope we will continue to grow together."

Claudia does not hide her admiration for other young emerging talents such as Martina Calvo, 16, semi-finalist in Buenos Aires: "It's great to see such young players with such a high level. The junior tournaments are already very high-level, and Martina's performance in Argentina shows how quickly women's padel is evolving."

After Brea, and a new stability

Asked about possible comparisons with her former partner, Delfina BreaBea tempers: "Claudia reminds me a little of Delfi in her tactical rigor. They both bring a lot of order to my game, but each has their own personality. What matters today is to build something solid with Claudia."

After an injury-disrupted 2024 season, Gonzalez appears to have regained some consistency: "You have to accept that injuries are part of the sport. It disrupted my ranking and my rhythm, but today I feel good physically and confident mentally."

A long-term project

However, the pair isn't setting any specific goals. "The most important thing is to progress together," Claudia sums up. "We don't want to put too much pressure on the rankings. The season is long, and each tournament is an opportunity to improve."

At the dawn of this BNL Italy Major, Gonzalez and Fernandez embody more than ever this carefree and talented youth, capable of shaking things up in a circuit dominated by established pairs. Their freshness and their work could well open the doors to their first major title.

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