Gemma Triay, currently world number 4, approaches this 2025 season with a clear ambition: to aim for the top with her new partner, Delfina Brea. After a short pre-season and first tournaments marked by adjustments, the Minorcan player confided in The little one Padel et Sports world on her first steps with Delfi, her experience in Riyadh and her view on the evolution of women's padel.

A duo still looking for its bearings

The transition between two seasons has not been easy for Gemma Triay. After a separation with Claudia Fernández, the Spanish champion decided to start a new cycle with Delfi Brea. However, the preparation was short, especially because of the Hexagon Cup, where the two players played separately.

“We had to adjust a lot of things after Riyadh. The week that followed was very beneficial for us to correct our mistakes and better define our game. This tournament is indoor, while Riyadh was outdoor, so the conditions are totally different. But we are moving forward with good momentum and a lot of desire.”

Triay describes their duo as a mixture of solidity and aggressiveness. She insists on their ability to dictate play on the fly, but also on their sense tactics : “We analyze our opponents a lot, we try to understand their patterns and find solutions.”

Riyadh: A tournament disrupted and a debate rekindled

The first tournament of the year in Saudi Arabia was marked by unexpected weather conditions. Long interruptions, postponed matches… A headache for the players.

“It was a weird tournament… We didn’t expect to see so much rain in the desert! We spent whole days waiting without knowing if we were going to play. It was frustrating because it made it difficult to manage our effort and concentration. But we were all in the same situation, we had to adapt.”

This tournament also rekindled the debate on the distribution of events indoor and outdoor. Triay pleads for a more pronounced balance in favor of indoor tournaments :

“Padel changes a lot depending on the environment. For me, the circuit should be at 70% indoor and 30% outdoor. Majors shouldn't all be outdoors, because the playing conditions are too variable. Indoors, the best pairs impose their superiority more easily, while outdoors, the wind and weather conditions can turn everything upside down."

A duel against Bea and Claudia marked by emotion

In Riyadh, Triay and Brea had to face Bea González and Claudia Fernández, their respective former teammates, in the semi-finals. A match where emotion played a key role.

“I’ve been in this kind of situation before, and it’s always special. It was the third time I played against an ex-partner, and I had lost the first two times. These matches are always very emotional, even more so than tactical. There was a lot of nerves on both sides, which made the match very irregular, with many breaks. It was a real fight.”

Despite the defeat, Bea and Claudia reached the final, although González was forced to forfeit. Triay, however, did not notice anything unusual:

“We were focused on our game, and I didn’t see anything that was concerning. That decision was up to her and her team. I can’t say whether she was diminished or not.”

Goal number 1, but without obsession

If the stated objective of Triay and Brea is to become number 1, the Spanish player insists that this will be built on the regularity and work.

“We are aiming for the summit, but this will involve intermediate stages. It is not an obsession, we must first and foremost find our alchemy and be consistent throughout the season. The road is still long.”

The separation with Claudia Fernandez was a key moment of the offseason. A difficult choice, but taken with sincerity :

“These decisions are never easy. We had a very honest discussion, and Claudia showed great maturity. She wanted to continue, but she understood my decision. I told her what an incredible season she had and that she could go very far. We finished Volume 2, which was unexpected at the beginning. I have no doubts about its future.”

The pleasure of playing in Spain and a preference for Valencia or Barcelona

After 9 years of absence, professional padel is back in Gijón, a city where Triay appreciates the atmosphere:

“I love playing in Spain, the audience is incredible. It’s my first time in Gijón, and I love discovering new cities.”

Concerning P1 expected in Spain in two months, but whose city remains unknown, Triay has a preference:

“If it is not Majorca, so maybe Valencia, where we have always had good tournaments. Barcelona could also be a nice option, not only for the Master Final.”

A duo that is gaining momentum

With a title in Gijón P2, Gemma Triay and Delfi Brea prove they are ready to play leading rolesTheir goal is clear: shake up the domination of Sánchez and Josemaría.

Benjamin Dupouy

I discovered padel directly during a tournament, and frankly, I didn't really like it at first. But the second time, it was love at first sight, and since then, I haven't missed a single match. I'm even ready to stay up until 3am to watch a final of Premier Padel !

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