Ari Sánchez and Paula Josemaría took bronze to deafening cheers – ending era in front of home crowd in Barcelona
Ari Sánchez and Paula Josemaría ended their collaboration in style when they won the final match for 3rd place in the Premier Padel Finals 2025 in Barcelona. The victory secured the bronze medal – and came to deafening cheers at the Palau Sant Jordi, where the home crowd cheered on the Catalan star in what was to be her last match with Paula Josemaría as her partner.
For Sánchez, born and raised in Catalonia, the moment was extra powerful. Ending a historic partnership with victory – in front of our own fans – gave the bronze medal an emotional weight that extended far beyond the result itself.
The battle for third place was thus not only a medal match, but a worthy end to a collaboration that has characterized women’s padel for four years.
Already earlier in the tournament, it was known that the duo will go their separate ways after the season. During an interview earlier in the playoffs, Ari Sánchez was clearly affected when the topic came up – she broke down in tears when confronted with questions about the breakup, a moment that underscored how much this collaboration has meant.
A Couple Who Defined an Era
Since becoming a regular couple in 2021, Sánchez and Josemaría have been among the most dominant duos the sport has seen:
- Over 40 top-tier titles
- Several seasons as world number one and number 1 pair
- Victories in Majors, Masters, and Playoffs
- Extreme stability over time – rare fare in elite sports
The partnership has been characterised by Ari Sánchez’s control, composure and tactical precision, combined with Paula Josemaría’s pace, physicality and attacking power.
Strong careers – even before the collaboration
Both were already established stars before they merged.
Ari Sánchez had made his mark early on on the World Padel Tour as a technically very complete player, with the ability to control the match picture from the backcourt. She was long considered a future world number one before her partnership with Josemaría.
Paula Josemaría, meanwhile, built her name as one of the tour’s most aggressive and physical right-wingers – feared for her intensity and ability to settle points quickly.
A conclusion worthy of history
The bronze medal, secured in front of an enthusiastic and loud Barcelona crowd, was a finish that mirrored the entire partnership: will to win, quality and emotional power.
With Sánchez and Josemaría now going their separate ways, they do so as one of the most successful pairs in the history of padel – leaving a void at the top of women’s padel that is not easily filled.
