A match with two faces
To open the 2026 Premier Padel season in Riyadh, the big match-up promised to be a real life-size test: the new pairing Ari Sánchez – Andrea Ustero facing number 1 Gemma Triay and Delfi Brea. In a tricky Padel Rush Arena, with sun and wind shaking up the trajectories, Triay and Brea initially played well: managing the ends of the games, varying the timing, and securing the first set 6-3.
The scene changes at the start of the second set. Immediate break, 2-0: the breaking point. On the bench, the message becomes clear (and comes back like a refrain): calm, order, and a clearer forward intention. Ari slows down the tempo when necessary, chooses his ball heights better and stops “forcing” low-margin shots. On the other side of the court, the No.1s find themselves defending more often, without being able to set up their routine.
The plan: play right down the middle, win the volley, let Ustero finish.
As the exchanges progress, we see the common thread: play through the middle to close the angles, then accelerate when a ball floats by. Sánchez often triggers the first move with a chiquita or a deep lob, before “biting” the volley. Ustero, on the other hand, takes over in the aerial game: squirting vibora, heavy bandeja, and above all “por tres” strikes as soon as a ball goes too short. The result: a 6-1 scoreline that looks less like a series than a demonstration of complementarity.
This duo works because the roles are clear. Ari brings clarity to decisions (when to delay, when to insist), while Andrea assumes the danger zone at the net. Even when the No.1s lengthen the sequences, Sánchez-Ustero holds the defense, takes a step back when necessary, then comes back together, without leaving any “free” balls in the corridor.
Nine match points saved: the mental test of the last set
The third set wasn’t all plain sailing. A break at the start, then a 5-2 score put the pair within a game of the title… before a reaction from Triay-Brea. The favorites hung in there, erasing nine match points and forcing Sánchez-Ustero to replay the important points again and again. It was here that the maturity of the duo became apparent: no panic, no haste, and a final acceleration at just the right moment.
On the tenth occasion, the turning point was complete: a good decision on the salida de pared, a clean transition, and the rally finally ended for the Spanish. Victory 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, first trophy together and a message sent to the whole circuit. Official results can be found on the Premier Padel and FIP pages.
