Huge performance by Alix Collombon / Ksenia Sharifova  au  FIP Platinum Lyon The Frenchwoman and the Russian player defeated the number 1 seed.  Alejandra Salazar / Aranza Osoro  at the end of a huge battle:  3/6 7/5 7/6 .

A prestigious victory against two players ranked much higher in the world rankings:  Salazar 14th ,  Osoro 17th , against  Sharifova 34th  et  Collombon 36th .

And above all, a victory that comes at the best possible time:  in Lyon, at Alix Collombon's house supported by an audience totally behind her.

Two difficult opening rounds before changing dimensions

Collombon / Sharifova did not arrive in the quarter-finals with many certainties.

In the first round, they had to overturn  Lorena Alonso / Lucia Dionisio  after conceding the first set, before winning in three sets.

Same scenario in the round of 16 against  Louise Bahurel / Ivet Val López where they still had to battle until the third set.

So there were many doubts surrounding this pair before facing the TS1.

But this time, we clearly saw  another version by Collombon / Sharifova .

Salazar/Osoro stronger in the important moments

The first set, however, was in favor of the number 1 seed.

 Alix Collombon is off to a very strong start She was aggressive and very present in the rallies, while Osoro experienced some more difficult moments. Sharifova, on the other hand, took a little longer to get into her match.

But Salazar/Osoro let their experience speak for itself.

They find the break midway through the set and prove more solid on the important points to close it out.  6/3 .

Sharifova is gaining momentum, Collombon is taking control of the game

In the second set, the match changed completely.

Collombon / Sharifova quickly take the opponent's serve, before being broken back.

Opportunities then came in quick succession, but they struggled to convert their break points.

One might think that the match is going to slip away from them.

But at  6/5 They finally find the opening.

And this round is clearly deserved.

 Collombon plays very aggressively , particularly in its bajadaShe is taking a lot of initiative. Sharifova is also gradually gaining momentum in these fast conditions.

Result:  7/5 and everything has to be redone.

Salazar/Osoro serve for the match

The third set then becomes unbearable.

Salazar is making significant progress on the track, Osoro is hurting with its accelerations, and the TS1 manages to take the break.

À  5/4 Salazar/Osoro serve for the match.

But Collombon/Sharifova refuse to die.

Supported by the Lyon crowd, they break back at the best possible moment.

And from there,  Sharifova is playing at an enormous level. .

Smash attacks, initiative, rhythm: the Russian is doing a lot of damage.

Collombon, who had experienced some moments of uncertainty at the beginning of the round, also found a second wind.

A tie-break under high tension

The match therefore went to a tie-break.

And there, Collombon / Sharifova do not tremble.

They continue to move forward, take the initiative and go after the points.

After a tense final tiebreak, they prevailed.  7-5 .

 3/6 7/5 7/6. 

Collombon collapses to the ground.

Total liberation.

Their biggest victory together

This is clearly one of the biggest victories for their association, and probably the most symbolic.

beat  Alejandra Salazar , a legend of world padel, and  Aranza Osoro , ranked 17th in the world, in a Platinum quarter-final, at home, in front of the Lyon public, inevitably gives a special dimension to this success.

This victory can also do a lot of good for a pair who were going through a more complicated period.

We reviewed a  very large version by Alix Collombon and Ksenia Sharifova with a lot of aggression, character and above all an ability to step up in the moments that matter.

Another blow for Salazar

For  Alejandra Salazar The defeat hurts even more.

A few hours after the announcement of her non-selection with Spain for the Doha World Championship, she suffered an early elimination when she and Osoro had come to Lyon to seek important points for the Race to the Finals.

This defeat inevitably complicates their operation.

Now for the semi-final.

Collombon / Sharifova are therefore in the semi-finals.

They will find  Bea Caldera / Carmen Goenaga (TS3)  for a place in the final.

Another big one.

But after what they have just shown against Salazar / Osoro, and with the Lyon public behind them, it is difficult not to believe in another feat.

Benjamin Dupouy

I discovered padel directly during a tournament, and frankly, I didn't really like it at first. But the second time, it was love at first sight, and since then, I haven't missed a single match. I'm even ready to stay up until 3am to watch a final of Premier Padel !

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