José Diestro: “The PPA continues to help players but with Premier Padel, there is no longer a relationship”

A respected figure on the circuit, José Antonio Garcia Diestro He doesn't hide. Frank, self-critical, and involved in the PPA (Players' Association) In an interview with SPORT, the Spaniard offers a frank assessment of the current state of professional padel, still marked by the 2025 tensions between players, FIP and Premier Padel.

A weakened PPA… and unrelated to the circuit

According to Diestro, the PPA still exists but its role is very limited today.
Since the relationship broke down last summer, There is no longer any dialogue with the circuit .

"The PPA continues to help players in certain areas (insurance, sponsorship options), but with Premier Padel"There simply isn't a relationship anymore."

Even worse, the players are not neither consulted nor informed major decisions, such as the recent calendar changes or reduction of tables in P2 .

Decisions made without the players

Diestro is categorical:
Neither the PPA nor he himself as a player were aware of these announcements.

"To my knowledge, no one in my circle knew anything about it."

A rare form of self-criticism in the professional world

Where Diestro stands out from much of the discourse is in its self-criticism .
He accepts a share of collective responsibility on the players' side.

"Often, we are the ones who are primarily to blame. We are professionals on the field, but we must also be professional off it. And sometimes, we make mistakes."

For him, the 2025 fracture has caused too much damage, and No one came out a winner. .

Communication before confrontation

Diestro rejects the idea of a new showdown or another boycott.

"Taking a confrontational approach today is not the solution. The players need to talk to each other first."

His message is clear:
before negotiating with Premier Padel or the FIP, the players need to become a credible unit again capable of defining common positions.

Poorly explained changes… more than poorly thought out

In essence, Diestro does not systematically reject new features (star point, service rules, reduction of tables).
What he criticizes above all is the way .

"Everything can be understood, provided it is explained to us. Today, we know nothing."

Concrete example: the reduction of tables in P2, announced a few days before registration closes , while some players had already organized their travel and their season.

A real concern for the future

Diestro doesn't dramatize, but he does raise the alarm.
Without dialogue, the same problems will return in six months.

"Pretending nothing is happening is like burying your head in the sand."

He argues for a general meeting of the players ideally planned to Riyadh , in order to collectively decide on the future of PPA… or even its continuation.

"Padel is bigger than the players."

In conclusion, Diestro reminds us of an often forgotten truth:

"Padel will outlive Galán, Coello, Tapia, and Chingotto. Our responsibility is to leave behind a stronger sport."

Neither open war nor silent submission:
José Antonio Garcia Diestro calls for maturity to discussion and to a real collective structuring.
A rare but necessary discourse in a sport that is growing... and still searching for balance.

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 !