À  37 years ,  Paquito Navarro  remains one of the most iconic players on the circuit Premier Padel. In an interview with Diario SportHe reflects on his longevity, the current level of the circuit and his ambitions for the rest of his career.

 A veteran who's still competitive 

On the occasion of the first tournament of the season at  Riyadh Navarro celebrated his  37 years …by reaching the semi-finals. Proof that the former world number 1 is still capable of playing a leading role.

Today it is  the oldest player in the world's top 20 , a situation he accepts philosophically.

"I'm coping well because my colleagues are respectful. On the track, we don't give each other any breaks, but off the track, we know we all have the same problems."

Navarro, who remains very close to the locker room, keeps his habits, even if the generations change.

"I still play mus with them; it's an old-timer's pastime. The younger ones prefer machines."

 Coello and Tapia, a benchmark in the circuit 

Navarro also closely observes the dominance of  Tapia and Coello , the world's number 1 pair. He highlights their fair play on the court:

"When there's doubt about a ball, Coello and Tapia always give two more. That says a lot about them. They are the number ones in our sport and true gentlemen."

But he clearly distinguishes the roles within the duo.

"I think the best player today is Tapia, but Arturo is the most decisive."

The Spaniard also did not hesitate to compare his compatriot to one of the biggest names in sport.

“Playing with Coello is like cheating… it’s like playing football with Messi.”

 A career still full of ambition 

Despite his veteran status, Paquito Navarro remains driven by competition. His objective is clear:  continue to compete with the best  and extend his adventure at the highest level.

"I am very happy to be able to continue competing with these young people. I lead a very professional life."

Alongside  Fran Guerrero He hopes to build a stable project within an association he particularly appreciates.

"Guerrero could almost be my son, but I'm very happy with him and I hope we can finish the year together."

 Two goals for the end of my career 

The Sevillian has set himself two more major ambitions for the season.

"Every time I pack my suitcase, I wonder if this tournament could be the one."

His priorities are clear:

  •  qualify for the Master Final reserved for the eight best pairs of the season,
  •  to play in the World Cup with Spain which would be his  ninth participation in 18 years of career .

 A critical look at the evolution of the circuit 

Navarro, however, did not hide his concerns about the evolving schedule and the pressure being put on the players.

"We end up killing each other over 100 points. We play FIP tournaments, not just Platinum or Gold, but also third-tier tournaments."

According to him, this increase in competitions could become problematic, especially for younger people.

"That means playing five or six more tournaments a year. It's a wear and tear that eventually affects your health. I'm okay, I still have three or four years of my career left, but for a young player it can be devastating."

 A figure who remains indispensable 

After nearly two decades at the top,  Paquito Navarro  continues to embody a pivotal generation of padel: the one that experienced the years when few players made a living from the sport and that today sees the circuit reaching a new dimension.

And at 37, the Sevillian hasn't said his last word yet.

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 !

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