Las Heras and Virseda, 2022's breakout stars

Las Heras and Virseda, 2022's breakout stars

Bárbara Las Heras and Verónica Virseda have announced themselves on the world stage in the 2022 World Padel Tour season!

17-08-2022

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The breakout stars of the 2022 campaign in the women's Circuit, without question, are Verónica Virseda and Bárbara Las Heras.

Both players had never made a semi-final before 2022. Halfway into the campaign, the Spaniards have made three; Reus, Alicante and Marbella.

They even made the final in Marbella, becoming the 24th and 25th different women to make at least one final.

Two late bloomers at 28 and 30, Las Heras quit professional padel for several years to complete her medical degree, returning to World Padel Tour in 2019.

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Semi-final debutants

In the second event of the 2022 season, the Estrella Damm Reus Costa Daurada Open 2022, Las Heras and Virseda broke through.

They turned heads when they dispatched four-seed and former number ones Lucía Sainz and Marta Marrero in straight sets and faced the reigning number ones Alejandra Salazar and Gemma Triay in the semi-finals.

While unable to beat their fellow countrywomen, losing 6-4 6-2, they impressed, announcing themselves to the world.

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Not just a one-off

Just weeks after their stunt in Reus, Las Heras and Virseda hit incredible form again at the Estrella Damm Alicante Open 2022.

They started their journey on the Spanish South East coast by beating eight-seed and legends Mapi and Majo Sánchez Alayeto.

Another upset came in the quarter-finals, where fourth-placed Delfi Brea and Tamara Icardo were beaten by the excellent Virseda and Las Heras.

Again, the number ones awaited in the semis, and it had the exact same result - 6-4 6-2.

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The next step in Marbella

The first Master of the 2022 season, Las Heras and Virseda stepped up in a big way.

First, they eliminated three-seed Ortega and González, before again dispatching Sainz and Marrero in straight sets.

This time in the semi-finals, they were up against seven-seed Aranza Osoro and Victoria Iglesias. Las Heras and Virseda won in straight sets to make their first-ever final.

While they won the first set against Paula Josemaría and Ariana Sánchez, the two-seed then came back to lift the title.

Still, an incredible achievement from the tenth seed, and the season is only halfway gone.

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