The "Vikinga" Zazu Osoro and her partner Veronica Virseda were proposed to the world number 1 Ari Sanchez and Paula Josemaria during the second semi-final of this Greenweez Paris Major. The 8th seed, who had, in the previous round, Araujo / Ortega eliminated in two clean sets without a hitch (6/2 6/2), were playing their very first semi-final of the year as a pair. Would they be able to repeat their excellent performance in the quarter-finals? 

Ariana Sanchez
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A lesson in realism

The question did not remain unanswered for long. On a Philippe-Chatrier court that was still as full as ever (although relieved of the early afternoon sun), Sanchez / Josemaria did not take long to draw, achieving a first break at 2/1, soon followed by a second. The current queens of the circuit collected the points by taking advantage in particular of a few errors committed on the fly by Zazu Osoro. At 4/1 however, Osoro / Virseda managed to tighten the game. Faced with an Ari Sanchez who was a little less precise and incisive than her partner, Outsiders get 4 break points. On 3 of them, Paula showed her power – particularly on the smash and the volley – and managed to keep her serve in play.

In Paula's diagonal, Osoro is in trouble and Osoro / Virseda can only see the damage: 6/2 for the TS1 in just under an hour. Sanchez and Josemaria have once again demonstrated their realism : 2 break points converted on 2 occasions, against 0 out of 7 to their opponents. With 3 winning points against 9 unforced errors, Osoro is the player who suffered the most…

Vero Virseda and Zazu Osoro
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Vero and the "Vikinga" put their legs

The second set begins with a any other tone. Suddenly more powerful, showing renewed fighting spirit and storming the net, the "Vikinga" Osoro and Vero Viserda unlock their break counter: 2/0, then 3/0 after Virseda held her serve. On Ariana Sanchez's serve, the match enters a new dimension. The points stretch out in length and neither team wants to give up. Attacks, defenses, variations of trajectories… Osoro / Virseda is snapped up and thus manages to maintain its advantage: 4/1, then 5/3.

Here is the "Vikinga" in service, awaited at the corner of the wood by a TS1 more than ever knife between the teeth. As expected, this game was fiercely contested. It was finally won thanks to a brilliant performance by Veronica Virseda – a short pass to Sanchez – and a net error by the latter. 6/3 for Osoro / Virseda!

Paula Josemaria Greenweez Paris Major
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Sanchez / Josemaria in blue overalls

the 3e set part on the same bases. Neither pair intends to give up ground, and defenses alternate with attacks. At 2 games each, Osoro / Virseda has the opportunity to break but runs into the determination of Ariana Sanchez and Paula Josemaria, who demonstrate at this moment that they also know how to wear overalls. On the following play, it is It's the turn of the world number 1s to put the pressure on, with more success than their opponents: 4 games to 2, then 5/3!

The points are still very close, which does not prevent Sanchez / Josemaria from finish as boss on Paula's serve: 6/2 3/6 6/3 in just under 2h30 of play. Overall, the tournament favourites were more impactful, racking up 36 winning points and, above all, 12 smashes between them. Opposite, Osoro / Urseda presented a significantly lower balance sheetr, with 26 winners and 5 smashes…

so here's Ari Sanchez and Paula Josemaria in the finale, facing Ustero / Brea : duel of left-handed in perspective tomorrow! The number 1s are favorites: they have won so far 3 of the 4 Majors they have participated in since 2023…Delfi Brea and Andrea Ustero are warned.

Frederic Theulé

Not a day goes by without a line… of padel court! For a few years now, Frédéric has decided to devote himself to his lifelong passion: the little yellow ball and its merciless world. Addict, did you say addict?