At only 20 years,  Claudia Fernández  continues to grow at breakneck speed. In an interview given to BRANDThe Spanish player looks back with clarity on her meteoric rise, her doubts, and her personal evolution in an increasingly demanding circuit.

 A meteoric rise… difficult to manage 

In less than two years, Claudia went from a promising young player to an established world-class player. A rapid rise, sometimes hard to take in:

“I went from playing in the round of 32, round of 16… to fighting for finals and titles. It was very sudden.”

Very early on, she had to make tough choices, including giving up youth competitions:

“I was doing both, junior tournaments and the pro circuit. It was too much. I remember arriving from a trip and almost fainting on the court.”

A necessary step towards the top level, but one that has left its mark.

 The pressure of top-level competition and the importance of mental strength 

Behind the results, Claudia evokes a reality that is often less visible: the pressure, the loneliness and the need to surround oneself with others.

“I was afraid of what people might think of me. Now I understand that they will talk no matter what.”

She also emphasizes a key point in her progress:

“I’ve always had a sports psychologist. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done. I recommend it to everyone.”

A rare discourse, but one that is increasingly present in modern padel.

 Accelerated maturation 

Between travel, independence, and the demands of the tour, Claudia has grown up faster than expected:

“I am a girl who is no longer a child… I don’t know yet if I am a woman, but I’m getting there.”

Deeply attached to her family, she recognizes the importance of this balance:

“My mother helped me a lot during difficult times. I needed not to feel alone.”

A personal evolution that accompanies his athletic progress.

 Memorable experiences with Triay and González 

His time alongside  Gemma Triay  was a turning point:

“She is very professional, she knows what it takes to be number 1.”

A rich but demanding experience. The same is true with  Bea González , despite high expectations:

“A very good season, even if we didn’t reach what people expected.”

Claudia insists: for her,  A project cannot be judged on just one year. .

 A new project with Sofía Araujo 

In 2026, she embarks on a new adventure with  Sofia Araujo A well-considered choice:

“I wanted someone who wanted to play with me. I’m very happy with the process.”

And she's planning for the long term:

“I can guarantee that I will play with Sofía all year.”

A sign of stability in a circuit where partner changes are frequent.

 Objective number 1… but without rushing 

Claudia makes no secret of her ambitions, but remains patient:

“I see myself as number 1 at 25 or 26.”

She prefers to proceed step by step:

“I'm not under any pressure. If it's meant to happen, it will happen.”

A mature discourse, far from the “niña maravilla” image that is still often attached to her.

 A player in development 

Between precocious talent, media pressure and constant learning, Claudia Fernández is forging her own path with lucidity.

“The most important thing is to be in good mental and physical health.”

A phrase that perfectly sums up his current state of mind: to progress, without skipping steps.

And at only 20 years old,  The hardest part may already be behind her… but the best is yet to come. .

Benjamin Dupouy

I discovered padel directly during a tournament, and frankly, I didn't really like it at first. But the second time, it was love at first sight, and since then, I haven't missed a single match. I'm even ready to stay up until 3am to watch a final of Premier Padel !

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