Sánchez and Ustero rout Triay-Brea again to set up Milan final

At the top of the women's tour, the world No. 1s now have a problem with one particular pair. In Saturday's semi-finals of the Oysho Milano Premier Padel P1, Ariana Sánchez and Andrea Ustero beat Gemma Triay and Delfina Brea 6-1, 6-4 in 1 hour 14 minutes. It was their third win in a row over the top seeds and it puts them in a fourth consecutive final.

For Triay and Brea it is now four straight tournaments ending in the semi-finals. Sánchez and Ustero also beat them at that stage in Rotterdam and, last week, in Düsseldorf.

A one-sided semi-final

The first set left no doubt. Sánchez and Ustero conceded a single game and kept control through a closer second set to finish the job in straight sets. Spanish outlet padelspain.net credited Ustero with "demolishing power" and near-perfect effectiveness, while Sánchez used her tactical intelligence to control the cross-court exchanges and set the rhythm against the No. 1s.

The run says a lot about the pair's level since the summer. Sánchez, from Reus, and Ustero, from Barcelona, won titles in Paris and Rotterdam, lost the Düsseldorf final last Sunday and are now chasing a fifth title of the season. They have won in Milan before: the FIP points out that they lifted the trophy at the Milan Major.

Triay's wait for title No. 59 goes on

The loss also delays a historic milestone. As Menorca's local press notes, Triay is chasing her 59th career title, which would make her the most successful player in padel history ahead of Alejandra Salazar. Salazar, who is in the final season of her career, was given an emotional farewell by the Milan crowd after her exit in the quarter-finals this week. Triay and Brea last beat Sánchez and Ustero in early September in Madrid.

Sánchez Fallada and Ustero Win Oyshop Milano Premier Padel P1 Title

The final: a direct fight for No. 2 in the Race

On Sunday Sánchez and Ustero face Paula Josemaría and Beatriz González, who got past Düsseldorf champions Claudia Fernández and Martina Calvo 6-2, 7-6 at their second match point. The final has extra meaning. Sánchez and Josemaría won this tournament together last year, so both defending champions are back in the final, now with different partners, and each will be across the net from her former teammate.

The stakes go beyond the trophy. According to padelspain.net, the final is a direct battle for second place in the Premier Padel Race. The recent head-to-head favours Sánchez and Ustero, who beat Josemaría and González 6-4, 6-4 in Rotterdam. Josemaría and González are looking for their first title since Valladolid, which would be their seventh together.

The winners take 1,000 FIP ranking points, the trophy and the circuit's new champions' rings. The women's final opens Sunday's programme at the Allianz Cloud at 15:00 CEST, before Coello and Tapia face Juan Lebrón and Leandro Augsburger in the men's final. In Spain both finals are free on Red Bull TV and also on Movistar Plus+.