Alejandra Salazar returns to Lyon with a crown to defend.  Crowned last year alongside  Martina Calvo The former world number one will return to the Palais des Sports de Gerland this time with  Aranzazu Osoro , his new partner since this summer. A partnership that quickly found its footing on the circuit and will arrive at  FIP Platinum Lyon, from September 21st to 27th, with the status of number 1 seed .

For Salazar, committed to the  last season of his immense career This is a great opportunity to retain his Lyon title, this time alongside Argentina.

An association that quickly found its rhythm

Formed during the summer, the pair  Salazar / Osoro  It didn't take long for them to find their footing. To build this association,  Aranzazu Osoro agreed to switch sides and move to the left leaving Salazar on his preferred right side. A significant adjustment for Argentina, but one that didn't prevent results from coming quickly.

From their very first weeks together, the two players reached the  Pretoria P1 semi-finals before confirming with a  final at the FIP Gold in Belgrade They then followed up with two quarter-final appearances in major tournaments, at  Madrid , then this week at  Paris Major At Roland-Garros, Salazar and Osoro even pushed  Sánchez / Ustero (TS3)  in the third set before giving up  6/3 3/6 6/2 .

This rise in power allows them to arrive in Lyon with reference points and, above all, a clear status:  top seed and pair to beat in the women's draw .

Salazar came close to a major upset against Ustero/Sánchez and leaves Roland-Garros with regrets.

A status of favorites to live up to.

In Lyon,  Salazar/Osoro won't really be able to hide Their status as  seeded 1  This naturally places them among the top favorites in a women's draw where several pairs will nevertheless have strong arguments to make. Behind them,  Alonso / Dal Pozzo ,  Caldera / Goenaga  or,  Rufo / Castelló  will notably try to challenge the hierarchy.

But considering their experience, their initial results together, and Salazar's special status in Lyon,  The objective will inevitably be the title. One year after her victory with Martina Calvo, the Spaniard returns with a new partner, but with the same ambition:  leaving Lyon with the trophy in hand .

Alejandra Salazar, a legend to guide the pair

À  40 years Alejandra Salazar obviously has little left to prove. The Spaniard has played at the highest level for several generations and has reached the  world number 1 ranking at four different times , notably with Carolina Navarro, Marta Marrero and then Gemma Triay.

With this last club, she experienced one of the most prolific periods of her career, winning  23 tournaments World Padel Tour in just over two seasons His list of achievements also includes  seven world team championship titles with Spain , the last one won in 2024, twenty years after its first participation in a World Cup.

A right-wing player, Salazar has primarily built her longevity on a  exceptional game reading Less dependent on power than some players of the new generation, she excels in construction: few errors, a high quality of lob, precise volleys and this ability to vary the rhythms to place her partner in the best conditions.

Not forgetting its famous  tray , which became so characteristic of his game that it earned him the nickname of  « Bandejandra » In Lyon, their experience in major tournaments will undoubtedly be one of the pair's main strengths.

Aranzazu Osoro, the "Vikinga" ready to step out of her comfort zone

By his side,  Aranzazu Osoro  brings a very different profile. Born in Paraná, Argentina, the player  30 years  has established herself over several seasons as one of the top contenders on the women's circuit, reaching as high as the  8th place in the world  at the peak of his career. Currently  17th in the FIP ranking Argentina has notably built its reputation on its intensity and its ability to fight for every point.

dubbed  "The Vikinga" Osoro is a very physical player, capable of bringing tremendous intensity to rallies and covering a lot of ground. But her partnership with Salazar brings her an interesting new challenge: accustomed to playing  to the right As her official FIP profile also indicates, she agreed to  swing left  to let her natural side remain in the Spanish style.

A change that demands more responsibility from him in finishing and attacking, but which also illustrates his  adaptability With Salazar's game science on the right and Osoro's activity on the left, the new pair thus seeks to build a different balance from the one they knew with their previous partners.

Salazar, a return to Lyon that was bound to be special

For  Alejandra Salazar This FIP Platinum award will undoubtedly have a special significance. In 2025, the Spaniard had already made her mark on the Lyon tournament by winning the title alongside  Martina Calvo , then only 17 years old. A perfectly executed week, culminating in a victory  6/3 7/6(1) against Tamara Icardo / Marina Guinart  in the final. This success then constituted the  59th international title  of Salazar's immense career.

A year later, the context is different again.  40 years The former world number one is competing in the  last season of his professional career Each tournament therefore takes on a particular dimension, and Lyon will be no exception.

This time accompanied by Osoro, Salazar will have the opportunity to achieve a rare feat:  retaining her title with a different partner ...while perhaps adding one last line to an already immense list of achievements.

Raphael Degironde

As a padel fan and player, I scan the padel scene: Beware, you are being watched!

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