At the Wilson event held in Barcelona for the presentation of the 2025 products, the world padel legend Fernando Belasteguín, recently retired, shared his impressions of his new life, his career and the evolution of padel.

Incidentally, he responds to those who think he could have retired a year earlier.

interview.

An active lifestyle, even after professional sport

Fernando Belasteguín, nicknamed “Bela”, is approaching this new phase of his life with serenity. Despite stopping professional competition, the former world number 1 maintains an active routine: “I really like doing sports, it has become my way of life. Even on vacation, I continue to eat healthily and be careful. If I gain a little weight, it’s not serious, but I think my lifestyle protects me from it.”

A body finally freed after years of effort

Asked about the state of his body after years of pushing his limits, Fernando highlights a feeling of well-being that he is rediscovering: “When you train at the highest level, your body is pushed to the limit. It’s been just over a month since my last tournament in Milan, and it’s the first time in years that I have not had any pain. For the last five years, I always had some discomfort somewhere. Today, I can finally feel that well-being.”

A final chapter mastered

Si Some might judge his last season as mixed, Belasteguín considers it a successful outcome: "I finished 24th in the world ranking. Compared to my previous years, it may seem like a step backwards, but finishing in the top 25 in the year of my retirement makes me very happy. With a few more victories, I could have been in the top 20. What matters to me is that I left when I decided to. It's a stroke of luck."

He had to overcome significant injuries during the season, including elbow, calf and hamstring problems. Despite this, he was able to come back to conclude his run in style at the Milan Open.

The evolution of padel, a technological revolution

Fernando Belasteguín also spoke about the evolution of the material in padel: "When I started, the rackets weighed 500 grams and were made of wood. Today, they weigh 360 grams and use modern materials such as rubber. This has allowed a huge evolution in the game."

This evolution is not limited to the equipment: "The balls, the courts, the playing conditions and the physical level of the players have also contributed to transforming padel. Every year, the game becomes different thanks to all these elements."

A look towards the future

Fernando Belasteguín concludes on a positive note, true to his optimism: "All the effort I have made during my career, especially in this last year, has been worth it. I see things in a very positive way." A beautiful philosophy for one of the greatest ambassadors of padel.

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.