At 29 years,  Marina Guinart  is undoubtedly having the best season of her career. Currently partnered with  Verónica Virseda The Catalan player has established herself as one of the most consistent pairs on the women's circuit, to the point of permanently settling into the world's Top 8.

However, just a few years ago, the Spaniard was seriously considering ending her sporting career. Guinart revisited all of this in an interview with SPORT.

 From tennis to padel, a second chance 

Before shining on the padel courts, Marina Guinart had initially focused on tennis. But the hoped-for results never materialized.

"Two or three years ago, I wondered if I should continue. Making a living from sports is complicated."

A period of doubt that was ultimately swept away by his discovery of padel and his constant progress on the professional circuit.

Today, the discourse has radically changed:

"I am very happy to be here, with the life I have and the team around me. Now, I don't even ask myself the question anymore."

 The Virseda Turning Point 

The big shift arrived with its association with  Verónica Virseda .

By becoming the number 8 pair on the circuit, the two players have taken a step forward and established themselves among the teams capable of challenging the best.

“We complement each other very well in terms of playing style and team dynamics. When Vero and Aranza parted ways, we were able to form this partnership and we seized the opportunity.”

Their objective is now clear: to establish themselves permanently in the quarter-finals and aim even higher.

"We want to continue on this path and try to take another step towards the semi-finals."

 A pressure that motivates her 

Being seeded number 8 brings its share of expectations, but Guinart prefers to see it as an opportunity rather than a burden.

"It's also a form of pressure, but if you know how to use it, it becomes an advantage."

A philosophy that seems to suit her perfectly. With her atypical profile as a 1.80m tall left-handed player.

 The FIPs, a divisive issue 

When asked about the controversy surrounding the presence of top players at FIP ​​tournaments, Marina Guinart expressed a very clear position.

According to her, the points currently awarded in some FIP tournaments are too high.

"The FIPs should help players who are coming from behind to climb the rankings."

It continues:

"The problem is that with so many points up for grabs, we're almost forced to participate as well."

The Catalan believes that reducing the number of points awarded would allow the best players to focus more on the circuit Premier Padel.

“I am convinced that the FIPs should not be worth so many points. We should only focus on Premier Padel »

 The dream of the Spanish national team 

With his current results, the question of selection for the next World Championships naturally arises.

And Guinart does not hide his ambition.

"I really hope so. It's a dream for any player."

The arrival of  Carolina Navarro  The captaincy position further strengthens his motivation.

"I have a very good relationship with her. It would be something very special."

 A career far from over 

If there were still some doubts a few years ago, they now seem to have been definitively dispelled.

Established in the Top 8 with Verónica Virseda, performing well on Premier Padel And ambitious for the coming seasons, Marina Guinart is now looking ahead.

And listening to him talk about his goals, one thing seems certain: there will still be some  Marina Guinart  on the circuit for many years.

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 !

On the same subject

Tags