After several partner changes in just a few months, Gonzalo Alfonso has decided to begin a new chapter in his season. The Argentinian will finish Malaga's P1 campaign with Javi Barahona before teaming up with Tino Libaak in Pretoria. In an interview given to BrandHe speaks frankly about his recent partnerships, his apprenticeship with Sanyo Gutiérrez, and the reasons that led him to bet on one of the greatest talents in world padel.

"Changing partners is not what I'm looking for."

Accustomed to building long-term projects, Gonzalo Alfonso has had to change his habits since his arrival on Premier Padel.

After Sanyo Gutiérrez and then Javi Barahona, he is already preparing to play with a third partner before the end of the first half of the season.

«  It's not something I like, but I have to adapt to this reality.  "When we make a change, it's to try and find something better," he explains. "If we've reached this point, it's because things aren't working as planned."

Nine tournaments with Barahona… without finding the right formula

On paper, the partnership with Javi Barahona seemed promising. In reality, the results never followed.

However, Alfonso insists that the two players tried everything. Training sessions increased, as did off-field interactions, and they even worked with a sports psychologist to improve their performance.

«  Along with Javi, he's probably the partner with whom I've tried the most to make a project work.  »

According to him, the problem was not the investment but the game's identity.

“In training, we had found a solid foundation. In tournaments, it all disappeared. We felt like we weren't playing anything, while all the other pairs at least had an identity.”

No regrets about Sanyo… despite a painful separation

Alfonso also revisited his separation from Sanyo Gutiérrez, a choice that had surprised after some notable performances, including a victory against Galán and Chingotto in Cancún.

He now acknowledges that the breakup was not related to the level of play but more to the emotional management of the pair.

«  The separation had much more to do with the human aspect than with padel.  »

Over the months, Sanyo became increasingly demanding of his partner.

"He thought I could always give more. In the end, nothing seemed enough. For my part, I was no longer as receptive to this constant demand."

Looking back, Alfonso nevertheless believes that this collaboration taught him a great deal.

«  Today, I would play with Sanyo again without hesitation.  I am convinced that we would handle things differently.

Sanyo / Alfonso: a bad idea disguised as a good one?

Why choose Tino Libaak?

Tino Libaak's name was already circulating before the start of the season.

At the time, Alfonso preferred to continue with Sanyo in order to maintain his seeded status on Premier PadelA few months later, the situation changed.

“We were preparing for our potential round of 16 matches against the best pairs… but we were losing before we even got there. So I figured it was better to accept starting a little lower in the standings, while building a team capable of beating anyone.”

The Argentinian is therefore fully embracing this new challenge.

«  I prefer to play an extra match if it then gives me the means to compete with the best teams in the circuit.  »

Libaak/Alfonso, it's official: a new Argentinian pairing for the rest of the season

"Tino reminds me of Sanyo... but with a different rhythm."

When asked about the qualities of his future partner, Alfonso paints a particularly flattering portrait of the young Argentinian.

«  Tino plays in a very similar way to Sanyo, but with a different rhythm.  »

According to him, their vision of the game could quickly create a natural complementarity.

"I know what he can bring offensively. He has an excellent vibora, a very good volley, and he has perfect control of the baseline game. For my part, I need to rediscover what has always been my strength: being a very solid player and covering a lot of ground."

The two players have deliberately not yet discussed tactical aspects, out of respect for their current partners, but Alfonso claims to already visualize how their future team will function.

The World Cup is in the back of my mind

Although he insists he did not choose Libaak solely for this reason, Gonzalo Alfonso acknowledges that the World Championship is now an additional motivation.

«  I've never been so close to being selected.  »

The former leader of A1 Padel believes that everything will depend on its results in the coming months.

"I know there are several players better than me in my position, but I still have time to prove myself. I'm going to fight to the end to earn this spot."

Premier Padelanother economic model

Finally, Alfonso also mentioned the economic difference between A1 Padel et Premier Padel.

Although he acknowledges having earned less prize money during his first season on Premier, his new sponsorship deals have more than made up for this difference.

“Tournament rewards are lower for me today because I don’t go as far as I did back then on A1. On the other hand, since I’ve been established in the Top 30, the contracts with brands are completely different.”  Sponsors are investing much more in Premier Padel "And today I am in a much more favorable economic situation."

Maceo ZERHAT

Maceo Zerhat discovered padel in 2020 in Savigny-sur-Clairis, Burgundy. He contributed to the club's expansion by bringing his energy and curiosity. Padel Magazinehe transmits his Padel"mania" by skillfully bouncing on all the latest news about your favorite sport!

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