Ustero, 17 years old, a record and a dream: “To become number 1 in the world”. From the Paris Major to the FIP Gold in Lyon: chasing the first professional title

The dream is that of every child who starts playing sport: ‘To become number 1 in the world’. Andrea Ustero Prieto from Barcelona, not even 18 years old, is on the right track: on Sunday, in the Greenweez Paris Major Premier Padel, she reached a final on the circuit for the first time and was the youngest to do that, but the feeling is that there will be many more. Ustero’s talent can be seen at the first ‘15’: right-handed player, shovel in her left hand, reading the game, precision and power, all with a face that is still almost childlike.

“I was very lucky to be able to play at Roland Garros, it was incredible – Andrea’s words -. To go from watching the finals on an ordinary Sunday on the couch at home to playing a final of a Major I think is a reward for the work and sacrifice I make every day: I work hard to compete against the best in what I like best. Thank you for giving me this opportunity, you are an example for everyone”. A message, the latter, directed to her partner in Paris, Delfi Brea, with whom Ustero came close to winning the title, before losing to FIP ranking queens Paula Josemaria and Ari Sanchez. And speaking of ranking, with the final reached at Roland Garros Ustero gained two positions, moving from number 16 to number 14.

An unstoppable ascent, that of one of the purest talents of the NextGen of world padel, who not even a year ago in Asuncion celebrated with the Spanish national team the world title in the FIP Juniors World Padel Championships, repeated with the senior national team in Cagliari in the FIP European Padel Championships, paired with the other young player Ale Alonso, with whom she was twice Spanish champion. And it is precisely with Ale that Andrea – who started playing padel when she was 8 years old and has not stopped since, also becoming three times champion of Spain and four times champion of Catalunya at junior level – will return to play this week, again in France but in Lyon. From the Paris Major to a FIP Gold that will see Alonso and Ustero seeded number 1. Because after five semifinals and a final lost at Premier Padel level, now it’s time to hunt for the first professional title of her career.