Claudia Fernandez, the young padel player making waves

Claudia Fernandez Sanchez, born on 28 February 2006 in Madrid, Spain, is a professional padel player who quickly rose through the ranks to become one of the most promising players on the circuit. In 2024, she has already impressed the padel world with her exceptional performances, notably alongside Gemma Triay.

This year, Claudia Fernandez made padel history by becoming the youngest player to win a professional tournament. This historic victory took place at the Premier Padel P1 in Santiago, Chile, where she, partnering with Gemma Triay, dominated the final against Patty Llaguno and Lucía Sainz with a convincing score of 6-1, 6-4, on 3 June 2024. 

At just 18 years, 3 months and 4 days old, Claudia broke the previous record held by Bea González, who had won her first professional title at the age of 18 in 2020. Claudia's early success not only sets a new milestone in padel history, but also highlights her immense potential and rapid rise as a dominant force in the sport. This triumph demonstrates her exceptional talent and maturity on court, promising an illustrious career in the years to come.

Basic information

• Full name: Claudia Fernandez Sanchez
• Date of birth: 28 February 2006
• Place of birth: Madrid, Spain
• Height: 1.64 m
• Current partner: Gemma Triay Pons
• Playing position: Right

Debut and rapid rise

Claudia started playing padel at the age of 7, influenced by her father, a padel coach. Her rapid progress enabled her to quickly reach an impressive level of padel and join the professional circuit around 2-3 years ago. In 2023, she made a notable debut by reaching the quarter-finals of a major tournament, her best result to date.

Breakthrough on the world stage

2024 was Claudia's breakthrough year, in which she not only broke youth records but also proved that she could compete with the best. Her first major final came at the Qatar Major, against Paula Josémaria and Ariana Sanchez, and shortly afterwards, she won her first Premier Padel title in Santiago, becoming the youngest winner in the history of this level of competition at the age of 18 years, 3 months and 4 days.

Victories and records

• First title: Premier Padel in Santiago, Chile, 2024
• Other important finals:
• Qatar Major, 2024
• Brussels P2, 2024
• Asunción P2, 2024

Claudia and Gemma Triay formed a formidable pair, quickly rising into the world top 10. They proved their ability by reaching several major finals and beating more experienced players.

Equipment and sponsor

Bullpadel supports the new generation of players

Claudia was chosen as the face of the next generation by Bullpadel. Since January 2021, she has used the Ionic Light racket, designed to combine power and precision, perfectly suited to her dynamic and aggressive playing style. Bullpadel actively supports the development of young talent in padel through its "NEXT GENERATION" initiative, highlighting the brand's commitment to supporting emerging athletes in this sport. This programme is designed to equip young players with the best tools to succeed, reflecting Bullpadel's belief in these athletes' potential to shape the future of padel.

The Bullpadel Ionic Light 24 racket is appreciated for its precision and manoeuvrability, making it a preferred choice for advanced players seeking both control and agility in their game. It stands out for its round shape, a carbon material frame, and a Multi EVA rubber core, ensuring a balanced response during play. This racket offers an excellent balance between power and control, weighing between 345 and 360 grams, ideal for versatile players​.

Furthermore, the Ionic Light 24 incorporates advanced technologies such as the 3D Grain finish, which adds textured precision to every shot, and CarbonTube construction for controlled power delivery, ensuring exceptional durability and manoeuvrability. This combination of features makes the Ionic Light 24 a powerful tool for those serious about improving their padel game.

Claudia also turned to Bullpadel for her padel shoes.

And other more unexpected sponsors

Claudia Fernandez has also been seen wearing Alpine padel clothing, a brand historically rooted in motorsport and renowned for its high-performance rally cars. Alpine has indeed expanded its reach by partnering with high-level padel events, such as the Alpine HOP London Padel Open 2024. This initiative marks a notable extension of its commitment to sport, demonstrating its desire to partner with prestigious events and expand its visibility beyond traditional motorsport circuits.

Playing style and tactics

Known for her aggressive game and great mobility, Claudia excels in positioning and the effective use of court space. She combines excellent defence with the ability to finish points powerfully, allowing her to dominate her opponents.

Commitments and prospects

In addition to her success on court, Claudia is committed to promoting padel among young people, hoping to inspire the next generation of players. With an already impressive career and a promising future, Claudia Fernandez is destined to become an iconic figure in world padel.

Claudia Fernandez represents not only the future of women's padel, but also the spirit of competition and excellence in sport. Her performances so far suggest that she will continue to break records and challenge normes in the years to come.

It will undoubtedly be very interesting to watch young players like her develop on the same circuit as more experienced players such as Marta Marrero, who is on the verge of making her comeback this year.