She won everything. She saw everything. And yet, Alejandra Salazar He speaks neither with excessive nostalgia nor with melancholy. Just with lucidity, serenity… and still a great deal of desire.
At 38, the Madrid native announced that 2026 will be her last season as a professional player. A final dance that she approaches "equally prepared and excited", before turning a huge page in world padel.

She confided in SPORTS about his season, his career, the evolution of padel, the younger generations… and this end which is approaching, slowly but surely.

An endless season, a padel that keeps growing

Even before talking about her, Salazar sets the scene. Modern padel is demanding, sometimes exhausting.

« The season was incredibly long. We played for over 30 weeks."Plus the events, plus the exhibitions. This is the season where I've spent the most time away from home."

A grueling pace that forces players to adapt:
« We will need to be very prepared, both mentally and physically. to endure that.

But behind the fatigue, there is also pride:
"I am very happy to see padel arriving in places we would never have imagined a few years ago."

Always up to scratch, always on time

On a personal level, Salazar remains true to herself: consistent, solid, competitive.

« I've been fairly stable all year"There were one or two more challenging tournaments, as is the case every season. But overall, I felt very good."

And above all, a powerful symbol:
« I played in the Master Final once again"To be among the top 16. That made me extremely happy."

She still talks about it with chills:
“Playing at the Palau in front of 15,000 peopleJust thinking about it gives you goosebumps.

The career seen from above: pride, perspective and gratitude

When you've won everything, your perspective changes. Salazar readily admits this.

"Sometimes you get a little nostalgic. You think to yourself: If only those tournaments had existed during my best years… »

But the prevailing sentiment lies elsewhere:
« It is a great source of pride to be able to say that I have contributed to bringing padel to where it is today. »

It also measures the progress made on a human level:
“I’ve shared the track with incredible players, worked with great coaches…” All of this has also shaped me into a unique person. »

Young female players? A whole other world.

Padel today has nothing to do with what it was in its early days. And Salazar observes this without bitterness, almost with admiration.

« Young female players today have a great deal of support."...structures, support."

The comparison is striking:
« At 16 or 17, I didn't feel like a professional player. I was studying, I wasn't saying I was going to make a living from padel.

Today, everything is different:
"Girls aged 16, 17 or 18" they already live for padelThey are very mature. In my generation, that level of maturity usually arrived around 30.

Pair changes: spectacle or instability?

A hot topic in modern padel, the repeated separations are divisive. Salazar, true to his balanced approach, offers a more nuanced perspective.

« That has a positive side"It brings life, uncertainty, and curiosity."

But she also points out the excesses:
« The projects are very shortEverything is moving too fast. Building something solid takes time, trust, and loyalty.

And she puts her finger on a reality that is rarely stated so clearly:
« Only number 1 or number 2 really play with whomever they want. The others often play with the options that remain.

Hence this permanent instability:
"You're always looking in the rearview mirror to see if a better option exists."

Ari and Paula: an exception that became a benchmark

For five years, Ari Sánchez and Paula Josemaría They resisted this instability. Salazar pays tribute to them.

"When you're at the top, when you're winning, why change? The options are much more limited.

She also remembers the duels:
"We helped each other grow." We won, we lostBut these battles have made us better.

She sends Ari a very personal message:
« I am very moved to see how much she has matured. I wish her the very best of luck; she has a spectacular career ahead of her.

The final season is approaching… and it's ready

2026 will therefore be the last. And Salazar fully accepts this.

« I am very relaxed about my career. What will be, will be.

She knows what awaits her:
"This will be a year of many goodbyes, but I want to experience it to the fullest and give my best version.

No partner yet… but no rush.

To date, there is a surprise: Salazar still does not have a teammate for next season.

« No, I don't have a partner yet. »

A deliberate choice:
"I am in a phase of calm and reflection."

She is clear-sighted about her position:
« I can still choose"But perhaps not the ideal option. The best ones are already playing against each other."

As for Martina Calvo, with whom she ended the year:
« She's a fantastic player"...with enormous potential. The idea was to pass something on, to leave a legacy... but sometimes paths diverge."

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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