Ale Galán, number 1 at the WPT with his partner Juan Lebron, was present at the inauguration of Z5 Padel Zinedine Zidane. The Madrilenian goes to the microphone of Padel Magazine, and speaks about the different professional circuits and the creation of the players' association that he presides.
A historical association
Lorenzo Lecci López: A few weeks ago, the professional players have created their association, and you are the president. What will be the first topics to discuss with the WPT?
Ale Galán: “We met very recently. It is historic, we want to form a bloc. This has never been the case until today. We have a common need to grow, like the development of padel. Everyone's ideas can help, and the more united we are, the better off we will be.”
Lorenzo Lecci López: Is it an association for the top players, or is the idea to represent all the players from the preprevias?
Ale Galán: “We are working for the good of the sport and of all the players. In the past, top pairs looked at their own interests, but this time around we all came together before we formed the organization. I think we have some common ideas. As there is in other sports such as tennis: an association protects all players. ”
A warning to the WPT?
Lorenzo Lecci López: We are seeing circuits emerging. THE'APT Padel Tour is a reality. There is also Lisandro Borges who announced the Players Padel Tour. The idea is that the association and the players form a single voice, or that the players can have the freedom to go and play on several circuits?
Ale Galán: “Today the situation is that we are all under contract with the World Padel Tour. I think in the future it will end up being a circuit of players and that everyone can contribute their stone to the building. Personally, and I no longer speak as president, I would like that. The more people who support padel, the more our sport will grow. At the moment we are not considering these things. The first steps are for us all to come together. We do not want padel to be affected by hasty decisions.”
Lorenzo Lecci López: Do you think that there must be a single circuit which dominates, or that there can be, as in golf for example, several circuits and that the players play according to their schedule several circuits?
Ale Galán: “I think that the more good players there are concentrated in a circuit, the better. The competitiveness that exists today from the first rounds does not get diluted in different circuits. But we have to be able to make the best circuit for everyone, and for everyone to benefit. That the players are happy with the circuit, that the circuit is happy with the players. That the audiences continue to grow. We all want the same thing: for padel to grow!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMkmsyV_7ao&ab_channel=PadelMagazine
From his names, we can guess his Spanish and Italian origins. Lorenzo is a multilingual passionate about sports: journalism by vocation and events by worship are his two legs. He is the international gentleman of Padel Magazine. You will often see him at various international competitions, but also at major French events. @eyeofpadel on Instagram to see his best padel photos!