Last year,  Gemma Triay  et  Delfi Brea  have dominated the women's circuit. 9 titles, 16 finals and one goal achieved: to reclaim the  global 1 number  by knocking down the historic pair  Ari Sánchez / Paula Josemaría A highly successful partnership that has reshaped the landscape of women's padel.

And yet, behind the scenes, everything almost changed.

 Paula Josemaría called Gemma Triay 

According to the revelations of Paco Sanz, president of the Federació de Pàdel de les Illes Balears, in the podcast The immense majority,  Paula Josemaría contacted Gemma Triay  to propose that they play together in 2026, just after the separation from Ari Sánchez.

In other words, Triay was the priority of the outgoing number 1.

A strong proposition, which placed the Menorcan player in front of a major strategic choice:
continue with Delfi Brea to defend the throne… or form a new super pair with Paula.

 A choice of continuity 

Ultimately, Triay decided to remain committed to her project with Brea, the pair that brought her back to the top of the rankings. A logical choice from a sporting perspective, given their clear dominance in 2025.

But according to Paco Sanz, the decision wasn't easy. The player reportedly admitted that she might "regret this choice in a few months," proof that the Josemaría option was very serious.

 A domino effect on the market for pairs 

Triay's refusal triggered a chain reaction. Paula Josemaría turned to  Bea González giving rise to an explosive pairing, while the rest of the circuit reorganized itself:

  •  Ari Sánchez / Andrea Ustero 
  •  Sofía Araújo / Claudia Fernández 

A major transfer window directly linked to the dominance of Triay / Brea.

 A strategic duel for 2026 

By staying with Delfi, Triay is betting on stability to defend his number 1 spot. On the other side, Josemaría / González embodies the main threat, with enormous potential and obvious motivation.

This “missed call” could well become one of the major narrative turning points of the season:
either he will confirm the soundness of the Triay/Brea project,
either it will fuel the debates if their rivals gain the upper hand.

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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