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Sánchez and Ustero Claim First Major Together at Roland-Garros

Ari Sánchez and Andrea Ustero crushed Calvo–Fernández 6-2, 6-0 on Sunday to win the Paris Major — their first Grand Slam title together and third Premier Padel crown of 2026.

Foto: OCHAPPS / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

A Masterclass on the Philippe-Chatrier

Ari Sánchez and Andrea Ustero sealed the Paris Major 2026 women's title on Sunday with a performance that allowed no room for doubt. The pair swept aside Claudia Fernández and Martina Calvo 6-2, 6-0 in one hour and eleven minutes on the Philippe-Chatrier court at Roland-Garros, delivering what was arguably the most commanding women's final in the tournament's short history. Sánchez positioned herself at the net from the opening exchanges, cutting off angles and pressuring Fernández and Calvo into errors they had been avoiding all week. The first set was settled comfortably at 6-2; the second unfolded as a continuation of the same story — eight consecutive games without a response from the other side of the net.

The Fernández-Calvo pair, who had dazzled crowds and analysts alike throughout the week, found no solution to the speed and precision of an opponent operating at near-perfect levels. Sánchez's grid play disrupted every attempt at lateral build-up, while Ustero's court coverage from the back wall left little space to exploit on the counter.

First Major Together, Third Title of the Year

Sunday's victory is the most significant result of the Sánchez-Ustero partnership to date. After reaching the final of the Rome Major in June only to come up short, the pair arrived in Paris with unfinished business — and settled it emphatically. It is their third Premier Padel title of 2026, following victories in Riyadh and Valencia earlier in the season, and their first Grand Slam crown as a pairing.

For Andrea Ustero, 19, it is the first Major title of her professional career, placing her among the youngest Paris Major champions on record. She read Calvo and Fernández's directional switches with clarity throughout, converting under pressure and never showing the nerves that a first Grand Slam final might have provoked. Ari Sánchez, a seasoned multiple-Major winner who has spent time at the top of the world rankings, provided the tactical backbone and composed the more aggressive net play. Together they were seamless: controlled, precise, and relentless on the decisive points.

The Story of Calvo and Fernández

Claudia Fernández (20) and Martina Calvo (18) left Paris with a defeat in the final, but their week deserves full recognition. By eliminating world number one pair Gemma Triay and Delfi Brea in the semi-finals, they became the youngest tandem ever to reach a Premier Padel Major final. Their attacking game had produced moments of genuine brilliance across the draw, and their ability to step up against the best opponents in the sport at their age signals a trajectory that the circuit will be watching closely. On Sunday, the experience and consistency of Sánchez and Ustero proved too high a barrier — but this will not be their last Major final.

Dubai's Padel Specialists: Can Tapia, Coello, and Bea González Extend Their Desert Dominance?

The 0-6 second set was not a reflection of effort or attitude; it was a measure of the gap, on this particular afternoon, between a pair at the peak of their powers and one still ascending toward them.

The Season Continues at Rotterdam

With the Paris Major concluded, Premier Padel's next stop is Rotterdam. The P2 at Rotterdam Ahoy runs from September 28 to October 4, carrying €264,534 in prize money. Dutch wildcards Marcella Koek and Steffie Weterings will represent the home nation in the women's draw, while Youp de Kroon and Julian Prins headline the local contingent on the men's side. Qualifying begins on September 27. For Sánchez and Ustero, a fortnight to absorb the Paris win before returning to competition — arriving in Rotterdam as the pair of the moment.

Gemaakt met redactionele AI-ondersteuning · Redactie Padel Post

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