In a remarkable display of mentorship and talent development, Spanish padel legend Ale Salazar is set to partner with 14-year-old rising star Carlota Lamas Rodriguez at the upcoming FIP Bronze tournament in Alicante. This unique pairing offers the young athlete an invaluable opportunity to compete alongside a former world No. 1 who holds the record for the most titles in women’s padel history.
Tournament Outlook and Key Contenders
The partnership between Salazar and Lamas Rodriguez has captured significant attention, as the duo enters the tournament as the No. 1 seeds. For Lamas Rodriguez, who expressed her deep admiration for the veteran on social media, the event is less about the final result and more about the experience of learning from a player who has secured 58 titles alongside Gemma Triay. While she is not the youngest player to ever compete on the CUPRA FIP Tour, the opportunity to share the court with a legend is a milestone in her burgeoning career. The tournament, which runs from Friday, September 18, through Sunday, September 20, features a competitive field of top-ranked pairs.
The women’s draw is rounded out by several other notable teams looking to challenge the top seeds:
- Ana Dominguez and Sandra Bellver: Entering the tournament as the No. 2 seeds based on their FIP ranking points.
- Aida Martinez and Nati Lopez: Positioned as the No. 3 seeds in the draw.
- Carlotta Casali and Margherita Aima: Entering the competition as the No. 4 seeds.
The men’s side of the draw is equally competitive, headlined by Mario Ortega and Victor Ruiz. Currently ranked No. 47 in the FIP rankings, the pair is hunting for their first-ever CUPRA FIP Tour trophy. Ruiz is particularly motivated, having narrowly missed a title earlier this year at the FIP Silver in Nola while playing alongside Argentine legend Sanyo Gutierrez. Other men’s teams to watch throughout the weekend include:
- Samu Rivas and Luis Oliver Artigas: Competing as the No. 3 seeds, they are positioned in the top half of the draw alongside Ortega and Ruiz.
- Ignacio Sager and Salva Oria: Serving as the No. 2 seeds in the opposite half of the bracket.
- Pablo Reina and Marcel Font: Rounding out the top contenders as the No. 4 seeds in the bottom half of the draw.
As the main draw kicks off this Friday, all eyes will be on the Alicante courts to see if the veteran-prodigy pairing of Salazar and Lamas Rodriguez can navigate the field to claim victory.
