It is neither more nor less than  the best match of the week , and of course the  sensation of the day  : Jessica Castello and Alejandra Salazar have just defeated Gemma Triay and Claudia Fernandez (TS2) after a  arm wrestling as long as it is indecisive . A real tactical gem, in a scenario with  twists   Outputs .

Public on the Chatrier court, Greenweez Paris Major 2024
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Key figures from an epic match

In order to take the measure of what has just happened on the Philippe-Chatrier, it is necessary  quote some figures . The score first:   4/6 7/6 (8-6) 6/3 in 3h27 , one of the longest matches of the season. The  number of points played afterwards: 239 in total . At the end of the match,  only 4 small points separate Castello / Salazar from Triay / Fernandez …in favor of the losers!

Also note that the 2nd seed of this Major won  47% of his points on first serve , against 43% for Castello / Salazar. Same trend on the second serves, where Triay / Fernandez capitalizes 52% of points won, against 44% for their opponents. To understand it well, you simply have to look at the  rate of converted break points: only 30% for Triay / Fernandez, 50% for Castello / Salazar .

We also note that the seed 2 of this Greenweez Paris Major has obtained a real  harvest of break opportunities (23) , almost double those played by Jess Castello and Ale Salazar (14). Enough to feed some regrets, as the closed face of the coach of the Fernandez / Triay duo suggested,  Rodrigo Ovide , at the end of the game.

Triay and Fernandez at the Greenweez Paris Major 2024
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A scenario with multiple twists and turns

To report on this match played under a Parisian sun – finally back – it is also appropriate to  return to the game dynamics  which were offered to the approximately 2500 people present in the stands of the Philippe-Chatrier court. At the start of each set, Triay / Fernandez  took off , capitalizing on a break lead. And at the start of each set, Castello / Salazar knew how to  get back on track . How? By tightening the game, and reorienting it when necessary.

This is how, after starting the game in the diagonal of the backhands (long exchanges between Triay and Castello), the outsiders Castello and Salazar decided to  play more in variations , especially through the “divorce zone” (middle zone). We must also point out the strong mentality of Ale and Jess, who in the tie-break were slightly separated in the score (5-4 in their favor),  before Salazar offers a match point to Triay / Fernandez  (2 unforced errors). On this one, the exchange lasts and ends with a quasi-reflex volley from Alejandra Salazar, who pins a Claudia Fernandez who is too advanced to the net…

 Le momentum just changed , and the outsiders come back into the game:  1 set everywhere!  Will they be able to continue their momentum? Not at all: right at the start of the last set, Triay/Fernandez manage to rest their game and break, before Salazar and Castello, once again, manage to  Stick to the score, millimeter by millimeter . The endgame is a big  fer bras , especially in the right diagonal. The match ball, concluded by Salazar on Fernandez, perfectly illustrates this duel.

Salazar and Castello congratulate each other
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Never, since March (Acapulco), Gemma Triay and Claudia Fernandez had not  lost before the semi-finals of a tournament . Besides, it was already against Jess Castello, associated at that time with  Claudia jensen .

Alejandra Salazar and Jessica Castello will play in the semi-finals tomorrow  Ustero / Brea , who have just won in three sets against Jensen / Icardo (5/7 6/2 6/3).

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?

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