Key Takeaways
- Andrea Ustero won the Paris Major at Roland Garros with Ari Sanchez at just 19, describing their success on Philippe-Chatrier as “truly one of my childhood dreams”.
- In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, Ustero highlighted Ari Sanchez’s mental strength and said she is “100% recovered” after recovering from the quadriceps tear that kept her out during the summer.
- After being included in Spain’s 12-player preliminary squad for the World Championship in Qatar, Ustero said that “wearing your country’s colors is the greatest thing an athlete can achieve”.
Philippe-Chatrier success in Paris
A first Major trophy capped an unforgettable week in the French capital for Barcelona-born Andrea Ustero, who lifted the title on the renowned Philippe-Chatrier court. Following her Paris Major victory at Roland Garros with Ari Sanchez, the 19-year-old spoke exclusively to Mundo Deportivo about her rapid ascent to the highest level of international padel.
“Honestly, if you’d asked me a week ago, I wouldn’t have believed it,” Ustero said as she looked back on the title. “It’s a dream come true to experience what we did on Sunday in Paris, at Roland Garros, in that arena where I used to watch tennis when I was little, to see my idols, Rafa Nadal, play on those courts. And to win a tournament there, well, it’s truly one of my childhood dreams. And I’m so happy to have achieved it at 19.”
Before their commanding final victory over Claudia Fernandez and Martina Calvo, the pair had to negotiate a difficult path through Paris that tested their mental strength to the limit. “In our case, it costs us a huge amount to close out these types of matches against the top players,” Ustero explained. “We came from a tournament start going to the third set in the quarter-finals, then in the semi-finals against Sofi and Martita we also went to the third; they pushed us right to the limit. And it was such a relief going onto the court in the final and seeing ourselves on the scoreboard with such a big lead.”
Developing alongside Ari Sanchez
Playing with experienced world number one Ari Sanchez has helped Ustero mature more quickly on the court. Their contrasting approaches have proved complementary, producing major titles through an immediate understanding, even though neither player allows the rankings to become an obsession.
“I always say that I am playing next to the number one,” Ustero observed. “She has a mentality that I would love for her to teach to all the young girls coming up in this sport. In training, I learn so much from her, both physically and in padel. She is very good, I always say that I’m going to look up to her because it will definitely go super well for me.”
According to Ustero, the partnership is balanced by Sanchez’s demanding standards, which challenge her daily, and the natural freedom she brings herself: “She has everything calculated regarding what can happen and what cannot, and I’m learning so much with her. I am a player where you can’t tell me too many things because in the end my head gets saturated. So, I think this is also helping her to play a little looser.”
Moving past injury with Qatar on the horizon
Paris success came not long after a difficult quadriceps tear disrupted Ustero’s campaign immediately before the summer break. “I had never had an injury like that,” she remembered. “I had a tear, but I was only off the court for a week, although I was away from competing for a month. I think that break did not do us any good at all because it meant breaking the rhythm we had… Now I am 100% recovered and really looking forward to everything that is coming.”
A place on Spain’s 12-player shortlist for the forthcoming senior World Championship in Qatar rewarded Ustero’s outstanding season and marked a major personal achievement. “Wearing your country’s colors is the greatest thing an athlete can achieve, so I hope I can make it in,” she said. Should she make the final selection, Ustero has one specific hope: “I would tell you Martina Calvo because I experienced the youth stages with her, I played World Championships with her… I think it would be very nice if they paired us together to play a match.”
Paris results and rankings for Sanchez and Ustero
Together, Sanchez and Ustero own a 36-12 win-loss record in 2026. Their most recent appearance came on September 13, when they secured the 2026 Paris Major by defeating Fernandez (world no.6) and Calvo (world no.8) 6-2 6-0 in the final.
Sanchez and Ustero: Paris results and rankings
Sanchez and Ustero have compiled a 36-12 win-loss record as a team in 2026. They last competed on September 13, beating Fernandez (world no.6) and Calvo (world no.8) 6-2 6-0 in the final to claim the 2026 Paris Major.
