Padel great Alejandra Salazar receives emotional farewell in Madrid

Nearly 15,000 people filled Madrid’s Movistar Arena to bid farewell to Alejandra Salazar, the most decorated player in padel history, as she prepares to retire at the end of the season.

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With all the passion I have put into it, I am incredibly proud and happy to see how far our sport has come. I have contributed my little bit to help padel reach where it deserves to be.

Salazar received a standing ovation and fought back tears during the tribute at the Premier Padel tournament. Her career includes seven world titles and a record 52 World Padel Tour titles, the competition that preceded the current circuit. She also spent the most time ranked No. 1, across different periods between 2009 and 2022, with three partners: Carolina Navarro, Marta Marrero and Gemma Triay.

“With all the passion I have put into it, I am incredibly proud and happy to see how far our sport has come,” Salazar said from the central court. “I have contributed my little bit to help padel reach where it deserves to be.”

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They would ask me, ‘Are you going to play tennis?’ And I would say, ‘No, padel.’ ‘Padel for what?’ Well, look where that ‘padel for what?’ has taken us, with so many people.

The Madrid-born player will turn 41 on Dec. 31, two weeks before her retirement at the Barcelona finals. She recalled that when she began playing, few people knew the sport. “They would ask me, ‘Are you going to play tennis?’ And I would say, ‘No, padel.’ ‘Padel for what?’ Well, look where that ‘padel for what?’ has taken us, with so many people,” she told the crowd.

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You made me better with every hug, every word of encouragement, every moment and every laugh. Not only a better person, but a better player. I have enjoyed this journey like a little girl. I always wanted to be that: a girl who loved playing and had fun.

Salazar thanked supporters for standing by her throughout 26 seasons. “You made me better with every hug, every word of encouragement, every moment and every laugh. Not only a better person, but a better player. I have enjoyed this journey like a little girl. I always wanted to be that: a girl who loved playing and had fun,” she said. Her farewell included flowers from Spanish Olympic Committee president Alejandro Blanco, a family portrait and a musical medley of her favorite songs. She also promised to remain available for “everything padel needs.”

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Everything padel needs.