The WPT Santander Open semi-final between Alejandra Salazar / Gemma Triay (TdS 2) and Marta Ortega / Bea Gonzalez (TdS 3) smelled of powder. First because it was the revenge of the half of the Swedish Open, won on September 17 by Salazar and Triay. Secondly, Ortega and Gonzalez wanted to confirm their success last Sunday in the final in Amsterdam, when they ended Sanchez / Paulamaria's 19-game winning streak. Finally because Ale and Gemma were keen to stop a worrying spiral of defeats for them.

Seed 2 left against seed 3

At the start of the match, the players exchanged their service games up to 3-2 in favor of Ortega and Gonzalez. The latter again take the service of Ariana Sanchez to lead 4-2, but Bea Gonzalez immediately loses hers in stride on punto de oro. Gemma Triay then manages to keep her commitment and equalize at 4-4. The match has already lasted almost an hour.

Bea and Marta on the attack

The seeded No. 3 then have two chances to close the set when they lead 30/40 on Ari Sanchez's serve: the second will be the good one, on a new decisive point. 6-4 in 1h07 of play.

During the first three games of the second set, no break point is to be defended by the waitresses. But during the 4th, it was still Martita and Bea who got two break points, without however managing to delight Gemma's commitment. In the next game, it's the opposite and this time it's Ortega who gets broken! 3-2 for Triay/Salazar.

From the next game, Bea and Marta are back on the attack, with the firm intention of making up for lost time. They get three break points. On the first, Ortega does not let a ball from Salazar pass which went straight into the window: it is the 6e missed break point in this set! But the 7e will be the good and the seeded 3 equalizes: 3-3.

Eight points… then four, then one!

the 7e game gives rise to a fierce fight and it is finally Marta Ortega who saves her team on punto de oro, from a cross cushioning which goes out the door. At 4-3, eight small points separate Bea and Marta from a second final in a row. But Ale and Gemma, even trailing 15/30, didn't give up and tightened the game to equalize at 4-4.

We feel that the desire is more on the side of the younger of the two pairs and in particular of a boosted Bea Gonzalez. But opposite, the former world No. 1 defend themselves tooth and nail, managing to pick up 5-5. At 6-5 in their favour, the winners of Amsterdam have only four points left to score…

Bea Gonzalez and Marta Ortega advanced to one point in the final

But there again, Gemma Triay holds her service without flinching. It's the tiebreak that will decide the outcome of the set – and possibly the match. And there, a little against the course of the game, Triay / Salazar begin this tie-break drum beating by leading 2-0, but Ortega / Gonzalez always want more and chain 5 points in a row. It's not over yet. Gemma and Alejandra win the two opposing service points and come back to 4/5, then equalize 5-5.

This is where Triay makes a big mistake by playing a volley from Gonzalez who comes out and offers a match point to Ortega / Gonzalez. But it's Marta's turn to miss on a finish that seemed easy. It's 6-6 in this tie-break!

The 13th point is endless, the suspense suffocating: it falls into the hands of Salazar / Triay, who thus offer themselves a set point. And it will be the good one, a chiquita from Gonzalez remaining in the band of the net… A set everywhere, the match has started for almost 2:30 and everything remains to be done.

At the start of the 3rd set, we feel Gemma Triay fully back in the match, driven by a great day Ale Salazar. While they seemed on the verge of breaking at the end of the second set, the world No. 2 are forcing and soon lead 2-3. This time, it's Ortega who seems to blame the blow and commits the fault on a punto de oro which allows Triay / Salazar to break away 1-4.

Confidence and success have now changed sides: the more experienced pair take Marta Ortega's serve and lead 5-1.

At the end of this thrilling match, Triay and Salazar qualify for the final, their 10th this season. Final score 4-6, 7-6, 6-1, in 3 h 03 of play.

This Sunday, they will find Ari Sanchez and Paula Josemaria, who dominated Virseda / Las Heras in half.

After 40 years of tennis, Jérôme falls into the pot of padel in 2018. Since then, he thinks about it every morning while shaving… but never shaves pala in hand! Journalist in Alsace, he has no other ambition than to share his passion with you, whether you speak French, Italian, Spanish or English.

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