At the heart of  Bomba Experience by Tecnifibre in Benidorm , in a spectacular setting between the sea and high-end facilities,  Jesus Moya The 96th-ranked player in the world, a 26-year-old Spaniard from Melilla, speaks candidly. Having been involved in sports from a very young age, he played football and tennis before dedicating himself fully to...  paddle The player on the left discusses his career, his injuries, the economic realities of the circuit, and the importance of mental strength in performance.  full interview without omission, which sheds light on the behind-the-scenes aspects of top-level sport.

"For us, sport is a religion."

 If you look around you here in Benidorm, what do you feel? 
If we turned the camera around and saw everything here—the hotel, the grounds—it's an incredible situation. I love the sun; I'm used to it in my region. Honestly, being here is a pleasure. Look at the sea, the views… it's amazing.

 How did you get started playing padel? 
I started very young, around five or six years old. I don't remember exactly, but I played padel, tennis, and football at the same time. My mother was completely overwhelmed with me and my brother. After school, we were always playing. My parents played tennis and padel, so they passed on their passion for sports to us.

Sport is essential. It provides a solid foundation, values, especially teamwork. For me, it's fundamental. I then decided to focus on padel. I loved football, I'm still a fan, but padel has given me so much and it will continue to do so for the rest of my life.

 Is this a family story? 
Yes. My grandfather played football in the 60s and 70s, even in Madrid and for some of the top teams in Spain. Since then, sport has been part of our DNA. My father and mother also played tennis. Not professionally, but they tried. Back then, things were different.

For us, sport is a religion. Whether professional or amateur, it will always be there. It's a way to release the stress and anxiety of daily life. It's essential.

Jesús Moya tecnifibre seated

"Padel has given me an incredible life."

 Why did you choose padel rather than football or tennis? 
I was lucky. Football and tennis are very large sports, with a huge number of players. It's extremely difficult to break through. Padel is the same, but it's growing rapidly. I think it will continue to evolve significantly in the coming years.

 At what point do you realize that padel is becoming your life? 
I've always loved training and playing. It's a passion before it's a job. But when you start traveling and playing tournaments, the competition pushes you to become tougher, more demanding. You end up seeing it as a job.

But for me, padel saved me. It gives you life.

"Injuries are part of everyday life."

 You shared the track with French players, including Thomas Leygue… 
Yes, and I remember his Achilles tendon injury very well. I was right there. It was awful. But seeing him play again after several months is impressive. He's someone I really like. We don't talk a lot, I'm quite introverted, but I really enjoy being with him. Playing together again? You never know.

 Partner changes are frequent on the circuit… 
Yes, there are a lot of changes. With all the tournaments and travel, staying with the same partner can become complicated. You have to be able to stick it out, but it's not easy.

 And you, are you currently injured? 
Yes. I've had two minor tears in my pectoral muscle in the last few months. That's why you haven't seen me in tournaments lately. I'm 100% focused on my recovery. My partner is also injured. There are a lot of injuries in padel.

Jesús Moya smash

"Without recovery, it's impossible to perform well."

 Why are there so many injuries in padel? 
There are many tournaments and little time to recover. And not all players can afford to have a physiotherapist every day or access technologies like footballers, such as hyperbaric chambers.

But things are changing. Players are becoming more and more professional. Recovery is improving tremendously. And that's essential, because without recovery, it's impossible to perform at the highest level.

"The mental aspect makes all the difference."

 What do you need to achieve a better ranking? 
It's difficult to analyze. I've experienced ups and downs. Sometimes, off the court, you're not doing well, and it shows on the court.

I've been working with a psychologist, Sergio, for five years. He helps me a lot. I have no problem saying that we can go through periods of depression and anxiety. It happens to many athletes.

People often say you have to separate your personal life from your work, but for me, it's very complicated. We're human. Everything is connected.

You need to learn to know yourself, to understand how you react to stress. This is fundamental to performing well.

Jesús Moya franck binisti

"The body and the mind are our tools of the trade."

 Injuries also impact the rankings… 
Of course. You have to start from scratch, find a partner… It's difficult. The body is our tool. We have to take the best possible care of it: nutrition, physical preparation, physiotherapy…

In recent years, I've had several injuries: adductors, ankle, pectoral muscle… It's not easy mentally. You stop playing, you lose your rhythm. But with psychological support, you learn to overcome these periods.

"My goal: the top 50"

 What is your goal this season? 
At the beginning of the year, I wanted to get into the  world top 50 It will be complicated, especially with my current ranking. I requested a protected ranking, so it has remained fixed.

But with the  FIP Tour There are a lot of opportunities. There are tournaments every week. Between the top 100 and the top 50, it's possible to progress quickly.

"Traveling to earn points... and survive financially"

 The circuit is also an economic challenge… 
Yes. You have to plan the tournaments with your partner. Choose where to go to maximize your points. But it's very expensive.

Sometimes you have to go and play very far away, like in Asia. If you don't win, you lose money. There's real pressure.

But you have to invest. And it's worth it. When you end your career, you realize you've traveled all over the world. It's a unique experience.

"The real pressure isn't ours."

 How to manage the pressure of having to win in order not to lose money? 
There is pressure, yes. But I put things into perspective.

There are people who have to support their families on modest wages, sometimes with two jobs. That's real pressure.

We are lucky enough to make a living from our passion. We work hard, we give it our all, but we have to keep that in mind.

The pressure exists, but you have to learn to manage it, especially with psychological work.

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.

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