Alejandra Salazar's rise in padel

Alejandra Salazar Bengoechea is a Spanish professional padel player. Born on 31 December 1985 in Madrid, she currently holds 1st place in the women's padel rankings of the World Padel Tour, a position she gained after trading places with the Sanchez/Josemaria pair.

A multiple-time world and Spanish champion, both in pairs and teams, Alejandra Salazar is now a true benchmark in the professional world of padel.

Alejandra Salazar's first steps

Alejandra Salazar's career began at a very young age. She started playing padel at the age of 8 by signing up for her first lesson. Her passion for padel was sparked by her mother, who played with her friends. Watching her on court, Alejandra increasingly felt the desire to discover the principles of padel for herself.

However, her beginnings were modest, as she was also juggling basketball. At the age of 15, she made the crucial decision to devote herself entirely to padel by joining Madrid's best youth teams. It was then that she began to dream of becoming world number 1, unaware that one day she would make a living from the sport.

Alejandra Salazar's evolution as a player

Over the years, Alejandra Salazar has become a living legend of padel. Her record is simply impressive: she has won the world champion title five times and the Spanish champion title eight times. She has no fewer than 50 World Padel Tour titles to her name.

One of her most memorable moments was her victory at the La Rioja tournament with her partner Gemma Triay. This victory made Alejandra Salazar the first woman to win 50 World Padel Tour tournaments, a feat matched only by legends Fernando Belasteguín and Pablo Lima.

At the age of 37, Alejandra Salazar still demonstrates the same competitiveness that has characterised her throughout her career. Her partnership with Gemma Triay since 2021 has been particularly fruitful, although they had to overcome a setback by losing the first set of the final in La Rioja (Argentina) before winning the tournament.

Alejandra Salazar's partners 

Throughout her career, Alejandra Salazar has partnered with some of the biggest names in the sport. She began her padel journey by forming a pair with another Spanish player, Icíar Montes. The two enjoyed great success on the circuit, winning numerous tournaments together. Another notable partnership was with Marta Marrero, with whom she played for more than 3 consecutive years, winning over 15 titles together.

The most iconic partnership she formed was with Gemma Triay, from 2021 to August 2023. They enjoyed significant success, winning several tournaments. One of their most notable achievements came at the 2022 Brussels Open, where they defeated the world number 1 pair.

Their playing dynamic is very solid, with Triay's quick reflexes complementing Alejandra's powerful shots, making them a winning pair. They form a formidable team and are always a force to be reckoned with in any tournament they enter.

However, in August 2023, Gemma Triay decided to end their partnership when Alejandra Salazar chose to take a two-month break to treat an elbow injury that had troubled her for several years. On her return in September 2023, she partnered with Sofia Araujo to resume competing.

Alejandra Salazar's playing style

Alejandra Salazar is renowned for her aggressive playing style and her ability to win points with her powerful forehand. She is often considered an attacking player, moving towards the net to finish points. She is also a tough competitor who never gives up.

However, her aggressive style can sometimes lead her to make mistakes, as she can be guilty of going too far when the situation calls for a more patient approach. Nevertheless, Salazar is a talented player who always gives her best on court.

What equipment does Alejandra Salazar use?

In 2019, Alejandra Salazar joined the Spanish brand Bullpadel, leaving the HEAD brand. She became one of Bullpadel's leading ambassadors and even has a signature racket, the Bullpadel Flow.

Her padel racket is renowned for its combination of flexibility and comfort. It has several technical features, including the "Flow Force", which provides a reinforced core to balance an oversized shape; "Fibrix", which combines hybrid fibres for the perfect blend of power and control; "Carbontube", a 100% carbon frame construction; "MultiEva", a rubber core made up of a soft inner layer and a denser outer layer; "Vibradrive", lateral channels designed for shock absorption; "Sticker", a flexible, adhesive and ultra-light frame protector; and finally "3D grain", which provides better grip and spin to the racket.

When it comes to footwear, Alejandra Salazar chose the padel shoes Flow Hybrid Fly Salmon by Bullpadel for her tournaments. They are part of the brand's premium range, designed especially for professional players. Their most remarkable feature is their innovative rubber and gel sole, offering exceptional cushioning. The breathable mesh upper keeps feet cool and dry. These shoes are equipped with the latest stability and traction technologies, making them an ideal choice for serious athletes.

In addition, Bullpadel has also launched an exclusive collection of 4 pieces in honour of Alejandra Salazar. This personalised capsule includes two T-shirt models, the ENEAL in mauve or ice colour and the ERASE in black or mauve colour, as well as an EPATO skirt available in black or ice colour. The finishing touch to Alejandra Salazar's new collection is the ESTEN jacket. All these products are made with Drylum technology, which retains little liquid, dries quickly, absorbs moisture and easily wicks it away, helping to keep the player dry and improve performance.

Alejandra Salazar's health problems

Throughout her career, Alejandra Salazar has had to face a series of injuries. These include ruptured cruciate ligaments in both her left and right knees, myocarditis, head impacts against the glass, and even a racket blow from a teammate just below her eye. In an increasingly demanding sport, it is rare to find a male or female player without physical issues. Alejandra Salazar has always overcome these challenges with determination and resilience.

She returned to competition in September 2023 after a two-month break due to a problem with her right elbow. She does not hesitate to share her experience to show how the corps and esprit can overcome obstacles, inspiring many athlètes.

FAQ

What is the latest news about Alejandra Salazar?

The Spanish player underwent arthroscopic surgery to relieve a persistent injury to her right elbow. The operation was successful, and after a recovery period of around two months, she returned to competition in early September 2023 at the Finland Open of the World Padel Tour.

Who does Alejandra Salazar play doubles with?

Since Gemma Triay announced that she no longer wished to continue her partnership with Alejandra Salazar, the latter chose to form a new pair with Sofia Araujo, a Portuguese professional padel player, currently ranked 10th in the WPT and a former tennis player. They reached the final of the Finland Padel Open 2023 in their first tournament together.