This stage of the circuit was never going to be a normal one; it was going to be a very special one, and so it was… An event full of nerves about coming back, with strict protocols and a feeling we had never had before, but above all an event in which to give thanks and pay tribute to everyone for what we had been through over those months.
As players, our job was to give 100% and show the strength and discipline that sport had taught us over so many years, and I know that is what we did. We found hours to train where there were none, strength, the will to give everything whatever happened, but above all the mental toughness to focus again on one single thing: the ball.
A few days before the tournament all the players from outside Madrid started arriving in the capital, and those of us who live here were getting the courts ready to hit some balls together and feel what competing was like again. My own feelings were nerves and a tireless wish for Monday at 12:00 to arrive.
On Monday we woke up early to warm up at the CDUFV Padel Club in Pozuelo de Alarcón before heading to the Madrid Arena, since with the new situation we would not be able to warm up on the same court we would compete on — focused and trying to shake off the nerves so we could enjoy the competition.
We got in the car and drove to the Madrid Arena, a venue we would have loved to enjoy with the people who support us every day, but sadly that was not possible. We warmed up physically outdoors, we shadowed our strokes with the racket picturing ourselves on court, the competition nerves were starting to show, but it was an achievement to see again the great team formed by all of us who make World Padel Tour possible.
We walked onto the court along the yellow arrow route and with our masks on, we reached the bench, it was time…
My partner Lorena Vano and I were facing a very tough match against opponents we had never been able to beat, Arantxa Soriano and Marta Borrero. The first set went our way with a very consistent performance, the second went to our opponents, who played with very few mistakes, and we went into a third where the mental side was key: we were all very well prepared physically, technically and tactically, but the psychological side was proving very hard… After 4 break points in 4 games decided by golden point, they all went their way, and the pair who deserved it for their play won, they were very consistent.
The competition ended for us very proud of the result, but with a bittersweet feeling for not having been able to do more. In 15 days we will have another chance to give it everything; we will never forget this experience.
We left accompanied by our coaches Juancarlos Morsica and Fede Posadas along the red arrow route marking the safe, clean exit, and with our masks on.
We will see each other again, Madrid Arena.
Eternally grateful to be back to normality in my city, Madrid.
Links of interest:
María Vera’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/m13vera/
2M Sports Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/2msports/