Alonso splits from Salazar, teams with Guinart

The women's Premier Padel field remains in flux ahead of the Málaga P1. Shortly before the next major tournament on the Costa del Sol, another doubles reshuffle takes centre stage: Alejandra Alonso and Alejandra Salazar are ending their joint project, once again shaking up the battle for the top places in the world rankings.

The two Spaniards had established themselves as a fixed presence in the upper tier of the women's circuit in recent months. Their split, however, comes at a time when Salazar had already announced her retirement from professional sport at the end of the 2026 season. The break therefore arrives much earlier than expected and immediately raises questions about the future direction of both players.

Alonso and Guinart form a new top pairing

The most significant change concerns Alejandra Alonso, who will now compete alongside Marina Guinart. On paper, the duo starts as the world's seventh-ranked pairing and brings together two players who currently rank among the most intriguing figures in women's padel.

Alonso is regarded as one of the most promising forces of the younger generation. She regularly confirms her form at the highest level and adds offensive power and pace that remain effective even against established top pairs. Guinart, meanwhile, is probably experiencing the strongest phase of her career. With growing experience and confidence, she has developed into a consistent presence behind the absolute leading pairs.

Sportingly, the partnership looks logical. Alonso provides dynamism and pressure, Guinart stability and tactical maturity. Together, they could quickly join the group of pairs that seriously challenge for podium places behind the undisputed favourites. For the Premier Padel Málaga P1, that adds another unknown in the upper part of the draw.

Guinart leaves Virseda – Velasco steps in

The new cooperation between Alonso and Guinart has immediate consequences for another established duo. Guinart had previously played with Vero Virseda, a pairing that had gained increasing consistency in recent weeks and delivered several respectable results on the circuit.

Virseda has already provided her answer: for the Málaga P1, she is entered alongside Jimena Velasco. The experienced player is therefore betting on a mix of routine and youthful momentum. Velasco is among the talents who have recently gained significant visibility in the women's field and are ready to take on responsibility in bigger matches.

The Virseda-Velasco pairing may look less spectacular at first glance than the new top duo Alonso-Guinart, but it holds potential for surprising results. Virseda knows the pressure of major tournaments, while Velasco brings freshness and fearlessness. Whether this combination pays off immediately at the Málaga P1 will be one of the event's intriguing subplots.

Salazar without a partner – uncertainty before Málaga

The situation surrounding Alejandra Salazar remains the most unclear. The Spanish legend of women's padel has not yet appeared on the entry list for the Premier Padel Málaga P1. For a player of her calibre, that is unusual and fuels speculation about her immediate future on court.

Rumours mainly point to a possible partnership with Aranzazu Osoro. That option, however, appears complicated because both athletes mainly play on the right side. Osoro would have to change position to be deployed effectively alongside Salazar – a step that is not easily managed tactically or technically.

Salazar's situation recalls the uncertainty at the end of last season, when Martina Calvo ended their pairing and a new solution also had to be found at short notice. Then as now, it shows that the women's transfer market in padel is rarely predictable in the long term and that even established stars remain dependent on short-term decisions.

For the rest of the field, Salazar's open partner search adds another variable. As long as it remains unclear who the former world number one will play with, rankings, seedings and tactical preparations in the upper part of the draw stay in motion. Ahead of a P1 tournament in Málaga, a late entry could noticeably shift the balance of power.

Key changes at a glance

• Alejandra Alonso and Alejandra Salazar end their pairing before the Málaga P1
• Alonso forms what is expected to be the world number 7 pairing with Marina Guinart
• Guinart splits from Vero Virseda, who starts the Málaga P1 with Jimena Velasco
• Salazar is not currently entered for Málaga, Osoro rumours remain unconfirmed
• Salazar plans to end her career at the close of the 2026 season

The Premier Padel Málaga P1 therefore moves into focus not only as a sporting highlight on the Costa del Sol, but also as the first major stage for several newly formed women's pairs. Alonso and Guinart will be under special scrutiny, Virseda and Velasco will seek quick proof of their new chemistry, and in the background the question remains open as to how Salazar will organise her final season.

For fans of women's padel, the current phase above all means one thing: the balance behind the absolute top favourites is once again in motion. New duos, fresh pairings and unresolved partner questions ensure that the start in Málaga carries far more tension than ranking numbers alone would suggest.