Regalado & Salazar: Long Before Match Point

Nobody remembers who lost the 2024 final. But Alvaro Regalado and Jose Salazar do. They remember every point.

Two kids from Alicante

They grew up in the same part of Spain, competing in the same junior tennis circuit before they ever played on the same side of the net. Each one knew who the other was — that kid crushing everyone in his age group. Years later, an ocean away, they found platform tennis. And they found each other.

Their first season together — their first wearing M4 — ended in a national final. Rookies, on the biggest stage in the sport. They lost.

Jose Salazar stretching for a forehand during the APTA Men’s National Championship

“After that tournament,” Salazar said, “we knew what kind of potential we had.”

The winter nobody watches

Platform tennis runs through cold and dark — frozen decks, early sunsets, breath fogging under the lights. Nobody films the gym sessions. Nobody sees the footwork drills, the hours of making yourself uncomfortable on purpose.

That’s the part that doesn’t make the highlight reel. It’s also the only part that matters.

Alvaro Regalado and Jose Salazar defending at the net during the APTA Men’s National Championship final

“We always learn more from the losses than from the wins.”
Alvaro Regalado

Another off-season. Another winter.

Summit, NJ. March 2026.

The APTA Men’s National Championship final went three sets. Regalado and Salazar dropped the first, 6-7. Won the second, 6-3. Won the third, 6-4.

Alvaro Regalado celebrating a point at the APTA Men’s National Championship final

When it was over, Regalado called it a relief.

Three years to get there. Two finals. One semifinal exit. Countless winter mornings nobody saw. All of it settled on a court in Summit, New Jersey.

Two kids from Alicante who spent a decade competing against each other before they played on the same side of the net. “What started with two friends playing paddle,” Regalado said, “turned into a dream.”