Marta and Sofia have Italian names and a special relationship with Italy. The results tell the story: Marta Ortega was the first player to win a Premier Padel title (Rome 2023, alongside Gemma Triay), while Sofia Araujo won the mixed doubles gold medal at the Mediterranean Games in Taranto less than two months ago, alongside her brother Pedro. Then there was their triumph together in Genoa two years ago, as well as the final reached by the Portuguese player in Milan in 2023, partnering Ale Salazar. In a women’s padel season without a dominant pair (the top two seeds have failed to win any of the last three tournaments), Ortega and Araujo want to join the battle for the title. Martina Calvo and Claudia Fernandez have shown how it can be done, winning in Düsseldorf after having been partners with Ortega and Araujo, respectively, until just a few weeks ago. “We knew we had top players alongside us”, Araujo assured. “Claudia has matured enormously over the past three years; Martina, meanwhile, is destined for greatness. She has a natural gift for padel. I had no doubt they could develop so much, tactically, mentally and physically. I wish them all the best”.
Before Fernandez and Calvo triumphed in Düsseldorf, Sanchez and Ustero had won in Paris and Rotterdam. At this stage of the season, predicting the winners of a women’s tournament is difficult, almost impossible. “Every year”, Ortega added, “it seems as though the level has reached its peak, but then an even higher one comes along. The younger players are very well trained mentally; you can tell they were born and raised in padel. I don’t have any advice for them, other than to enjoy and appreciate every moment to the fullest. Sometimes, we only realise what we have achieved when it is no longer there”.
While Ortega would have liked to become a skier, Sofia Araujo has Serena Williams as her sporting idol. Padel, however, has established them as top players and will see them wearing the jerseys of Spain and Portugal, respectively, at the FIP World Cup in Doha in less than a month. “Just seeing my name on the list of selected players gave me goosebumps”, Marta admitted. “But first we have the P1 in Milan and the Major in Kuwait to play. It’s better not to think about the World Cup just yet, otherwise time will never pass…”. And so, alongside enjoying the padel courts, it is worth making the most of the cities that host the tournaments, too. “We love Italy: the places, the people, the food. We couldn’t wait to come back”.