Key Takeaways
- Carolina Navarro confessed, “I’ve spent sleepless nights thinking about Martita and Alejandra,” before selecting Marta Ortega over Alejandra Salazar for Spain’s World Championship roster.
- Navarro explained her reasoning by stating that “Ale, as you all know, is a legend; she deserved to be there and say goodbye like this,” but concluded that Ortega is currently performing very well.
- On the backhand side, Navarro chose Martina Calvo over Tamara Icardo, stating that Calvo “deserved the opportunity to represent Spain.”
Navarro confronts agonizing selection choice for Doha
Spain national team coach Carolina Navarro faced one of the most demanding roster selections in recent memory ahead of the World Championship in Doha. With Paula Josemaría established as an undisputed starter on the drive side, alongside the emerging forms of Claudia Fernández and Andrea Ustero, the final spot came down to an intense debate between two of padel’s most decorated competitors: Alejandra Salazar and Marta Ortega, who previously shared the title at the 2024 World Cup.
The deliberative process weighed career legacy against recent competitive form. Explaining the emotional toll of making the final call, Navarro admitted, “I’ve spent sleepless nights thinking about Martita and Alejandra.”
Navarro went on to detail how she evaluated Salazar’s monumental status against the current trajectory of Ortega. “Ale, as you all know, is a legend; she deserved to be there and say goodbye like this,” Navarro stated. “But it’s also true that this could be Martita’s last World Championship, and I think she’s performing very well.”
Ultimately, the coach sought to detach herself from the emotional farewell narrative surrounding Salazar. “I’ve tried to distance myself a bit from everything and think about what I would do if it weren’t Alejandra’s last year, and the decision would have been Martita,” she revealed.
Ortega’s pride and the battle on the backhand side
For Ortega, earning the place carries deep personal significance. During an earlier interview at Roland Garros during the Paris Major, she highlighted what donning the national jersey represents. “It’s my favorite week, I enjoy it so much,” Ortega expressed. “For me, it’s an honor, a source of pride, and an incredible responsibility to carry the flag. It gives me goosebumps.”
The squad assembly presented another delicate choice on the backhand side. While Gemma Triay, Ari Sánchez, and Bea González were locks for the team, the final place was contested between Tamara Icardo and Martina Calvo. Navarro ultimately chose Calvo to join the team alongside her partner Claudia.
“It was complicated because the level is extremely high,” Navarro noted regarding that backhand debate. “Tamara is playing very well, but Martina is coming on strong with Claudia; she deserved the opportunity to represent Spain.”
Di Nenno and Navarro in Paris, ranking, and results
LWWWLWWLWW Di Nenno and Navarro have achieved a win-loss 21-9 record together in 2026. The last match they played was on the 12th of September capitulated to Galan (world no.3) and Chingotto (world no.3) 7-5 6-2 in the semifinal.
