Qualified for the Bordeaux semi-finals Premier Padel P2, Gemma Triay and Delfi Brea displayed a much more convincing performance than in Valladolid. After their victory, the two players reflected on their renewed confidence, the very slow playing conditions in Bordeaux, Andrea Ustero's meteoric rise, the long-standing rivalry between Gemma Triay and Ari Sánchez, and also on a more unexpected topic: fashion in padel. Full interview. 

 Padel Magazine : After a difficult tournament in Valladolid, do you feel you have regained your best level? 

 Gemma Triay: 

There are so many tournaments today that it is very difficult to maintain a very high level all year round.

When you have a slightly less successful tournament, you can very quickly lose confidence.

And, contrary to what many believe, regaining that confidence is not so simple.

Personally, in Valladolid, I never really felt comfortable during the whole week.

Today, it was completely different.

We rediscovered a much smoother style of padel.

We managed to build points together, string together good sequences and rediscover our playing identity.

We also displayed a very good attitude.

We worked extensively on the ground and, above all, demonstrated a great deal of patience.

On this very slow track, against a team that defends remarkably well and constantly restarts the exchanges, it was necessary to accept building up points for a long time.

We managed to remain patient while constantly applying pressure.

This is exactly the type of padel we want to offer.

We must retain this identity for the rest of the season.

Gemma Triay: "Ari Sánchez is the player who pushed me the most to improve"; Delfi Brea: "Andrea Ustero is a real sponge"
Gemma Triay: "Ari Sánchez is the player who pushed me the most to improve"; Delfi Brea: "Andrea Ustero is a real sponge"

 Padel Magazine We saw a lot of breaks and re-breaks, especially in the first set. How do you explain this phenomenon? 

 Delfi Brea: 

I think it comes directly from the playing conditions.

The track is so slow that the service loses a lot of its importance.

It's much easier to lose the net.

The exchanges are much more balanced.

After winning the first set, our objective was simply to maintain the same intensity, energy, and playing intentions.

It's obviously easier when you've just won a round.

On the other hand, when you lose a tie-break as hard-fought as the one in the first set, it is much harder to come back with the same confidence.

I think that's where we made the difference.

We continued to play very well in the important moments.

In the end, I think we played a very good match.

 Padel Magazine Gemma, you've often said you love fashion. Would you like to see padel evolve towards more personalized outfits, like we see at Wimbledon with Naomi Osaka or Serena Williams? 

 Gemma Triay: 

Yes of course.

Since I started working with BullpadelI participate directly in the design of my outfits.

I even have my own collection.

I really enjoy exchanging ideas with designers.

I show them what I like, what I like less.

I try to make sure my outfits also reflect my personality.

Obviously, I can't see myself wearing outfits as extravagant as Naomi Osaka's.

But why not see more creativity in padel?

I believe that every player should be able to express their identity through their equipment.

This is also what makes sport more vibrant and interesting.

Gemma Triay: "Ari Sánchez is the player who pushed me the most to improve"; Delfi Brea: "Andrea Ustero is a real sponge"
Gemma Triay: "Ari Sánchez is the player who pushed me the most to improve"; Delfi Brea: "Andrea Ustero is a real sponge"
Gemma Triay: "Ari Sánchez is the player who pushed me the most to improve"; Delfi Brea: "Andrea Ustero is a real sponge"

 Padel Magazine Delfi, Andrea Ustero continues to impress. Do you feel she's improving with every tournament? 

 Delfi Brea: 

Completely.

I had already noticed that when we played together.

Andrea possesses exceptional qualities.

It's like a sponge.

It absorbs everything.

Everything she sees.

Everything she hears.

All the advice he's given.

Then she adapts them in her own way and immediately tries to apply them.

When a young player possesses this learning ability, she can only progress.

I am convinced that it will continue to evolve very rapidly.

I just hope to keep beating her! (laughs)

But we all know that it will become increasingly difficult.

Every tournament is different.

The tracks are changing.

The bullets change.

We are all different players.

We are going to experience some very exciting confrontations in the years to come.

Gemma Triay: "Ari Sánchez is the player who pushed me the most to improve"; Delfi Brea: "Andrea Ustero is a real sponge" Nerone

 Padel Magazine Ari Sánchez explained yesterday that you were the player who gave him the most trouble. Do you feel the same way against her? 

 Gemma Triay: 

Yes.

We have been fighting each other for so many years.

Since my beginnings, I have almost always found Ari in my diagonal.

I sincerely believe that we have helped each other progress.

I wouldn't be able to say how many times we've clashed.

There were a huge number of them.

Our rivalry is very balanced.

Ari is an extremely well-rounded player.

She knows how to adapt to all conditions.

I, too, had to study his game extensively.

For years with Paula Josemaría.

Today with Andrea Ustero.

We both worked incredibly hard to get to know each other better.

But this rivalry remains very healthy.

We have a great deal of respect for each other.

I always wish him the best.

We are two very ambitious players.

Very hardworking.

And we know how to recognize the qualities of others.

 Padel Magazine It's often noticed that when you lose a point, you immediately change balls. Is this a superstition? 

 Delfi Brea: 

(Laughs)

I think I'm just getting older!

More seriously, it's not really a superstition.

Changing balls mainly allows me to do a “reset”.

To mentally disconnect from the previous point.

It's not the ball that matters.

It's about starting over with something new.

 Gemma Triay: 

My situation is a little different.

If we lose twice in a row with the same ball, I might want to change it.

But it's not a real obsession.

We don't actually have many little rituals.

Franck Binisti

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.

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