Finally! This afternoon, Roland-Garros looks like… Roland GarrosThe public is there, the sun too, and the Philippe-Chatrier is quite largely filled by an audience that is just asking to vibrate…On the track, the show is also there, like the one we were offered by the first semi-final between Ustero/Brea and Salazar/Castello.

Salazar and Castello
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A flying start for Salazar / Castello

On paper, the theoretical advantage was rather given to Delfi Brea and the young Andrea Ustero who, at 17, is already at 18e world ranking. The 4th seed was opposed to Alejandra Salazar and Jessica Castello (TS6), which had eliminated Gemma Triay and Claudia Fernandez in the previous round, TS2 and serious title contenders.

Surprise : the start of the match is in favor of the outsiders. Better in place, directing the game and occupying the net whenever possible, Salazar / Castello seems untouchable. An entry break, followed by a second… The 100% Spanish pair leads 4 games to 1 and we don't see how Brea and Ustero are going to get back on track.

Delfi Brea
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5 games in a row from Ustero / Brea to snatch the first set!

Yet they succeed, gradually gaining ground who leads them to the net. Delfi Brea commits fewer faults, Andrea Ustero plays his left-handed paw alternating recoveries and strong smashes... Here they are back to 4 games each, then to 5 games to 4. Tactically better in place, they considerably hinder Salazar / Castello and achieve a break synonym of Grail : 6 / 4.

Of the four players, Ale Salazar is probably the one who suffers the most on the track. : Only 5 winning points and above all 7 direct errors. It is also necessary to underline the presence of Ustero / Brea, who in this 1er set will have converted 3 break points out of 3.

Andrea Ustero in the locker room
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The Ustero tornado

The debates are balanced in the second set. As the great champion that she is, Ale Salazar roars and the points become more and more expensive for both teams. The games go by but are all disputed. At 4 games all, Salazar / Castello breaks and makes it concrete on Salazar's serve: 6/4 for the TS6! One statistic alone can sum up this second set: Ustero / Brea had 4 break points without converting a single one. For their part, Salazar / Castello won 1 of their 5 opportunities.

The third set begins as Both teams pass the two-hour mark of play. Andrea Usteo is particularly prominent, knitting with his left-handed hand defenses as smooth as his smashes are sharp. A cushioned volley here, a backhand there… It perfectly highlights Delfi Brea. Result: a Double Break The entry for the TS4 clearly has the wind in its sails and finishes with a bang: 5/0, then 6/0. The stats of the youngest Ustero are eloquent : 23 winning shots for 14 direct errors, the best ratio of the 4 players.

Final score: 6/4 4/6 6/0 in 2h25 of playu. After having chained two semi-finals together, Ustero / Brea qualifies for its first final – something that had never happened to Delfi Brea in a Major before. As for Andrea Ustero, she is 17 years old the youngest player to reach the top of a Major Premier Padel.

We will find them tomorrow against the winners of Sanchez / Josemaria and Virseda / Osoro.

GPM 2024 – Results and schedule of the semi-finals
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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