The most unpredictable women’s tournament ever, in the most evenly matched season ever. At the Allianz Cloud, following the winning debuts of Giulia Dal Pozzo and Carolina Orsi, the queens of world padel are arriving in Milan, having travelled directly from Düsseldorf, where another result confirmed a trend that was already clear: predicting which two players will slip the Champions’ Rings reserved for the women’s and men’s champions of the Oysho Milano Premier Padel P1 onto their fingers is impossible.
Indeed, the number one seeds — Delfi Brea and Gemma Triay, with six titles to their names — have not won a tournament since Madrid and, more generally, have not reached a final since then. In Milan, they will be looking to bounce back after being forced to retire before their semi-final 12 months ago. To find the last victory for the number two seeds — Paula Josemaria and Bea Gonzalez, who have also won six titles — we have to go back to June, when they triumphed in Valladolid’s Plaza Mayor. The last three tournaments have therefore been won by the number three seeds — Ari Sanchez and Andrea Ustero, in Paris and Rotterdam — and the number four seeds, with Claudia Fernandez and Martina Calvo further shaking up the top positions in the FIP Ranking and the Race. In Düsseldorf, Ari Sanchez and Andrea Ustero overtook Paula Josemaria and Bea Gonzalez on points. During Media Day at the Allianz Cloud, Sofia Araujo did not mince her words: “Martina Calvo is a born star”. At 18, the player from Pamplona had already made a major impact on the circuit last year, but since July her rise has been remarkable. Martina Calvo began playing alongside Claudia Fernandez — a veteran by comparison at 20 — and the results have been four finals, two of them won in London and Düsseldorf, and two semi-finals.
Four pairs competing for the crown, with their campaigns getting under way on Thursday, when the top four partnerships will make their first appearance at the Allianz Cloud. Delfi Brea and Gemma Triay, who will make their debut against Bea Caldera and Noa Canovas, and Ari Sanchez and Andrea Ustero, who will face Lucia Martinez and Araceli Martinez, already know their opponents in the round of 16 in the top half of the draw. Today, meanwhile, the round-of-16 line-up will be completed, with either Riera/Bidahorria or Castelló/Rodriguez set to face Fernandez and Calvo, and either Manquillo/Sainz or Rufo/Iglesias to take on Josemaria and Gonzalez. Brea/Gonzalez in 2023, Triay/Fernandez in 2024, Sanchez/Josemaria in 2025: who will be crowned queens this year? Anyone who gets it right will have done well.