Juan Lebron is once again under fire after his match with Stupa against eventual Paraguayan finalists Cardona and Augsburger. But beyond the easy criticism, isn't it time to put the facts into context? Stupa's injury, the pressure of returning, the Andalusian's well-known temperament... An analysis of a case that has divided the padel world.

Juan Lebron has been under fire again for two days, after his defeat with Franco Stupaczuk against the gunners Leo Augsburger and Tino Libaak, finalists of the tournament Premier Padel in Paraguay. This article is not about defending the Andalusian—he doesn't need anyone to do that—but rather about recalling some contextual elements that seem to have been overlooked.

It's worth noting first that Franco Stupaczuk had just returned from injury. He hadn't played since Qatar. This tournament in Paraguay therefore marked his return to competitive action. Visibly lacking rhythm, the Argentinian logically gave more space to Lebron, who was particularly combative and active, for a right-sided player.

Franco Stupaczuk injured and out of Qatar Major

Against a pair like Cardona/Augsburger, who are in great form and capable of beating the best teams in the world, this defeat is nothing short of a disaster. This premature exit should therefore be put into perspective.

Of course, LeBron's comments on the bench against his teammate were clumsy, to say the least. But should we be surprised? Juan LeBron has long been known to be one of the most emotionally unstable players on the tour. Capable of flashes of brilliance, but also of losing control. All his former teammates know this: Galan, Paquito… and now Stupa.

Should we therefore forgive him for all his excesses? No. Can this behavior harm his teammate? Certainly. Juan LeBron is not the one who will psychologically support his partner. But sportingly, he remains one of the best right-footed players in the world, even capable of turning a match single-handedly when he's in full possession of his abilities. And no one disputes that.

Lebrón / Stupaczuk: an end already announced?

The reality is that Stupa doesn't have many viable alternatives right now. A split isn't on the agenda. But the upcoming tournaments, especially in Argentina, will be decisive. If he suffers another poor performance, things could accelerate. In padel, as we know, things move quickly.

The goal here isn't to minimize LeBron's behavioral inconsistencies, but simply to provide additional information for those interested in this duo. Being his partner, despite his immense talent, can be tiring. And history has shown this time and again: even when the results are good, the atmosphere can quickly deteriorate. Galan won't disagree.

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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