Álvaro Meléndez gives his perspective on the reality of players outside the world's top

In an interview given to The little one Padel et Sports world, Alvaro Melendez, a professional padel player, shares his experience and offers insight into the challenges faced by players who are not among the top ranked on the circuit. The 23-year-old from Seville, currently ranked 81st in the world, looks back on his preparation for the 2025 season, his career and the economic and sporting realities of being a professional player.

Preparation in the tropics for Riyadh P1

For this pre-season, Álvaro has chosen to train at Panama, far from the winter temperatures of Madrid. This strategic choice aims to better adapt to the climatic conditions of the first tournament of the year, the Riyadh P1, where high temperatures and high humidity can influence the game. “Last year, the contrast between the 3 degrees in Madrid and the conditions in Riyadh made it difficult to adapt,” he says. Working in a similar environment helps to better prepare your body and optimise your performance.

A mixed 2024 season

Álvaro Meléndez describes 2024 as a year of transitions and learning. After leaving Seville to settle in Madrid with his brother, he joined the Juani Mieres Academy. This decision, although beneficial for his technical and tactical development, was accompanied by financial challenges. On a sporting level, Álvaro has had irregular results. Alongside Cristian Gutiérrez, nicknamed “Sanyito”, he reached the round of 16 at the Paris Major, beating top-level pairs. However, he describes the season as a “roller coaster”, marked by inconsistent performances.

The difficulty of living from padel

Meléndez discusses the difficult financial realities faced by players at his level. “For me, it was a tough game.” His parents invested heavily in his career, but he now has to support himself. Thanks to his main sponsor, Kuikma, he manages to cover some of his expenses. However, the costs of travel, accommodation and competition remain a major obstacle for players outside the world's top tier. Álvaro suggests that tournament organizers offer players opportunities such as lessons or exhibitions to offset these costs.

A new beginning with Facu Domínguez

For the 2025 season, Álvaro will team up with Facu Dominguez, with whom he has already shared the field in the past. “We understand each other very well, and our fast and powerful playing styles complement each other perfectly,” he explains. With Juani Mieres as coach, Álvaro sets himself the goal of reaching the world top 50. “We want to upset the higher-ranked pairs, win games and progress consistently.”

The importance of mental preparation

Beyond the physical and technical challenges, Álvaro insists on the importance of the mental management. Accompanied by a sports psychologist, he works on how to manage pressure and not depend only on results. “You have to learn to enjoy the process, even when the results are not there.” He also points out that the instability of results can explain the frequency of partner changes in professional padel.

A lifelong padel career

Unlike many players who come from tennis, Álvaro is a pure product of the paddle. Having started playing at the age of 5, he grew up on the padel courts, pushed by his older brother Pedro. “It’s rare in this sport, but I’m a 100% padel player.” This passion, rooted from a young age, continues to guide his career today.

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 !