Padel World Press - An unexpected closure! Alejandra Salzar and Gemma Triay say goodbye to WPT Marbella Master 2023 after being defeated by TAmara Icardo and Virginia Riera in some exciting quarterfinals that left some more surprises.
The day was affected by more than two hours of delay due to improvements to the slopes after the rain in Marbella. Despite the lack of outdoor play, the intensity was kept high in the women's competition, where the second and third-placed couples also said goodbye to the tournament.
Tamara Icardo and Virginia Riera they prepare to face the twins in the fight for a place in the grand finale. The bottom of the frame has seen a number of surprises and twists. The first shock occurred in the first turn of the central meeting, when Mapi and Majo Sánchez Alayeto defeated Delfi Brea and Bea González, a duo in spectacular shape, with a score of 6-4 and 7-5.
Delfi and Bea, who arrived with a title to their credit and a final last week, failed to find their best game against some twins who were unstoppable throughout the game. The twins took the lead in the seventh game, and although Delfi and Bea had a chance to equalize in the tenth game, it was the twins who took the crucial point, setting the score at 6-4.
Delfi and Bea seemed to react at the start of the second set by taking a 2-0 lead, but their dominance was short-lived, as Mapi and Majo quickly equalized the score at 2-2. As the set progressed, the twins put Delfi and Bea under pressure with their return game, and finally, in the eleventh game, they achieved the long-awaited break that assured them victory with a final score of 7-5.
An impressive victory for Mapi and Majo Sánchez Alayeto, who celebrate their first qualification to the semifinals of the season. Now they will face the imposing duo formed by Tamara Icardo and Virginia Riera in a confrontation that promises to unleash sparks and overflowing emotions in the next stage of the tournament.
And it is that in the next game Alejandra Salazar and Gemma Triay they broke their unbeatable streak since last October, in which they had not lost any final. However, last week they suffered a defeat against Delfi Brea and Bea González. Now, eight months later, their streak of reaching at least the semifinals has also been broken, falling in the quarterfinals against Virginia Riera and Tamara Icardo in an exciting three-set match, 1-6, 6-4, 4-6.
Tamara and Virginia they had been desperately looking for a win against the top two ranked couples, and they finally managed to break that barrier today. The Spanish-Argentine duo, who lost last week in this same stage against Gemma and Ale, overwhelmingly dominated the first set with an impressive 6-1 against the second ranked.
As expected, Gemma and Ale reacted and got fully involved in the game, taking the second set with a partial of 6-4. Worse Tamara and Vir held on in the third set, thus breaking their losing streak against Gemma and Ale, and placed themselves one step away from the final in Marbella.
The number one did not fail! Ariana Sánchez and Paula Josemaría they did not allow Patty Llaguno and Carolina Orsi to have even an ounce of hope of getting into the game. The ruthless leaders, with a display of authority in the form of double 6-1, they quickly made their way to the semifinals.
In a repetition of the events, they will meet again in the semifinals with Marta Ortega and Sofia Araujo, a couple with whom they faced each other just six days ago in the waiting room in Vienna. This time, Ari and Paula advanced after they Marta was forced to retire due to physical problems, leaving a match unfinished.
However, they had a very difficult time getting through to the semifinals. And it is that Marta Ortega and Sofia Araujo they began their performance in tow. Claudia Jensen and Jessica Castelló dominated the first set, making it their own.
However, the Spanish-Portuguese duo, in another set full of equality, managed to force the third set and overcome a challenging match. They displayed their supremacy in the final stage, masterfully beating their rivals with a forceful 5-7, 6-4, 6-1. A true victorious resurgence.
* You can follow all the news of the world of paddle in our profiles of Facebook y Twitter as well as subscribe to our Newsletter .
