They have already been partners in numerous tests of minors and the Madrilenian Federation. A priori, they may seem very different both on and off the track but, of course, if they have shown something along their respective careers these two great players is that there is nothing that can resist them.
Padel World Press .- In 2015, the Women's Circuit lived what could be considered the most spectacular season of its history ... And the excitement promises to be even greater during the 2016 campaign. They will contribute to this Marta Ortega (18 years old) and Alba Galan (23 years old), two players who will 'debut' as a couple in the World Padel Tour but who, among their achievements as a duo, can boast of being three-time Champions of Spain Sub'23.
Illusion, desire, talent ... At this moment, Martita is studying day and night to prepare for her first medical exams. The member of Team Adidas, affirmed before the companions of the World Padel Tour that she has more nerves with the university tests than with any match. For her part, her new partner is not afraid of needles. This is demonstrated by the multiple tattoos that he has hidden all over his body. If Alba stands out for something, it is because of her temperament, the same one that makes her so special, and because of her way of imposing respect. The combination of both will make them become a wall of steel for their rivals.
You had played several championships together but, how was the joining together as a couple in World Paddle Tour? Who looked for whom?
Alba: I think it was something of both. In all the tournaments that we have played together there has been a very good complicity not only with her, but with her parents and with her entire team. They have a way of being and being very similar to me and we get along great. He left alone, on the part of the two. We were doing so well playing those tournaments that we said, why not? We were both looking for a change and when it was time to close a partner for the next season we got in touch. It was mutual.
Martita: I think that none really looked for the other. It had always been something that we had taken into account. We had played together, we are both from Madrid, I have known her since I was 9 years old ... Actually, no one looked for the other; We knew that sooner or later we were going to end up together and this year it has happened. We both separated from our partners and we thought we could do well if we got together. And see what happens this year.
What memories do you have of the three triumphs in the Spanish Sub'23 Championship?
Alba: Above all, laughs. The word that would define those three tournaments is laughter. We made a great effort, they were very important tournaments for both of us and we had managed to win them three times together. But we earned them by being friends and getting along great. That was the best part. We went game by game, working and fighting. And that is never forgotten. Nor do I forget anecdotes such as the camaraderie that Martita and also our rivals, Marta Talaván and Victoria Iglesias, showed in a final in which I got very sick and they were all there supporting me. There are special moments and Martita made them even more special.
Martita: I have very good memories, not only of those tournaments ... And I remember them very fondly. I remember enjoying playing. We get on well and we both play at ease, one with the other.
Is it a future bet?
Alba: I hope so, because we are two very young girls. In this sport it is not very common to see players of so young age in top positions, such as Martita, Victoria Iglesias, Marta Talaván, Mari Carmen Villalba. And the truth is that yes, I would like it to be a bet for the future to consolidate ourselves because I think we can do very well.
Martita: we are both young and it is clear that if things go well we will try to prolong it as long as possible. Although neither of us are to set goals so inflexible. If the results were not given or either of them was not comfortable, the flexibility to leave it would be absolute. We are not a society or anything like that.
How is your relationship off the tracks?
Alba: I can not tell you anything else that is not great. Even when I was not playing with her we got together off the track to talk, laugh, take pictures ... It was not just that we agreed to play in those tournaments, but behind that a friendship relationship was hidden for several years.
Martita: Our relationship is great. To give you an idea, in the Team Championships we always tried to be together in the room, and in those that we did not play together, too. We had a great time together.
Do you see yourself as young promises?
Alba: I do not know if we are young promises but at least we tried. We try to be up there in the future and that we can be a Salazar, a Carolina Navarro ... To finally become a Top.
Martita: No. We really see ourselves as two players with a strong desire to play, to do things well and as best we can. Obviously we know that we are young and that we have time to reach our goals, but we do not see ourselves as promises.
What do you like most about your new personal and sporting partner?
Alba: Off track, I like the joy it has. I am a person who values humor, laughing, playing the fool ... And that is something that is guaranteed with her. People do not know if you value it, but I am of the opinion that a good laugh, on many occasions, can be very good for you and for the people you have by your side. And in the paddle, which is a team sport, even more so. She is also in favor of that same philosophy. Sportingly, his desire to win everything, his competitiveness. I am also a very competitive person, I change a lot when I enter the track because that's where I get serious. I am very fighter. And I like that she has that same claw that I believe because I think we can do it very well together.
Martita: Personally, a feature of Alba that I really like is that it is very transparent, both inside and outside the track. He is a person who always supports you at all times, never gives you a bad face, or have a bad word for you. In addition, it is very fun to be with her because she is very funny and makes you relax and think about something else. And at the track level, his youth, his aggressiveness and his desire.
As for tactics, what will be your strengths?
Alba: That cannot be said that if not the opposite… (laughs). I hope the attack. We are both very aggressive and Marta is also very fast. I am very aggressive too and by combining my strength and speed I think we can be a 'destroyer'.
Martita: That I can not tell you, it's going to be read by the rivals ... (laughs). Let's go surprise, stay with that.
And the couple's Achilles heel?
Alba: Well, honestly, and although I also see it as a virtue, I think that our Achilles heel may be that competitiveness I was talking about before. Because sometimes you don't do things well on the track because you want to win. And then you rush and you start to see that the game is going and you start to leave yourself but on a mental level. So I think that the head may be our deficit although I hope not much happens to us (laughs)
Martita: Well, there will be, surely there will be. But let's try not to be very obvious and not so weak. Now that we are in the pre-season, I do not want to think about which will be the weak ones, but I prefer to strengthen those that are going to be the strong ones. And let the weak out when they have to leave, but for now, positivity.
Objectives for 2016?
Alba: Well I think it would be to be among the five best couples. But little by little, we don't want to set very specific goals either because we are a couple who are going to start now and we have still played little. The important thing is the desire we have and as I was saying, I think we can function very well. Hopefully.
Martita: A perfect goal would be to return to the Final Master. I already experienced it in 2014, and the truth is I was very sad for not having been able to enter this year. I would tell you that the first objective is that. But the important thing is to be comfortable with each other and play well. I want to feel that we are improving with each other, that things are going the way we want ...
To finish, the partners of World Paddle Tour revealed the only point in which these two great players do not seem to agree: the tattoos. Martita affirmed that no matter how much Alba insists, and even if they won all the tournaments of the WPT Circuit, the only ink that she will try on her body will be that of the pens with which she will write in her Medicine exams. Who will win that match?
The show does not stop and we can only say ... Enjoy the Game !!!
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