Baharak Soleimani, 93rd player in the ranking of World Padel Tour and the first Swedish player to make a remarkable entry onto the international scene. She hopes to be able to resume walking very quickly as soon as the COVID-19 is behind us.

This Swedish leftist player of a meter 70 had reached the Previas final during the first tournament of World Padel Tour of the season : the Marbella Master, with its Mexican partner Ana Maria Cabrejas. It is proof that Sweden, padel lives an incredible story. Interview.

Padel Magazine : How did you get into the padel ? Were you a tenniswoman originally?

Baharak Soleymani: I tried the padel About two and a half years ago in Sweden, and I fell in love with the sport straight away. At that time I was no longer playing tennis. I quit when I was 16.

PM: Why did you stop tennis? Did you have a good level?

BS: I was in the top 3 tennis players in Sweden but I didn't really enjoy playing so I decided it was best to stop.

PM: You rediscovered your taste for competition with the padel ?

BS: Yes, I made the decision last August to go and play a few tournaments in Spain just to test myself. But I liked it so much that I decided to take it more seriously and play the World Padel Tour thoroughly.

PM: What are your goals in the padel ? Do you live and train in Spain?

BS: My goal would be to enter the Top 40-50. For the moment I am staying in Sweden, I have been training for two years with Dani Dios, a great Spanish coach, who brings me a lot. I train with him as much as possible, but since he moves a lot, it's usually three days every 6-7 weeks. The rest of the time I play matches.

PM: It's not much for a player of your level! Do you find players to train in Sweden?

BS: Dani has spent the last 5 months in Sweden so we were able to train. I also happen to spend a few days in Marbella, say maybe 4 times a year, to train with him.

Regarding training matches, I only play with boys. There are good players but we all live far from each other…

PM: The padel is the sport on the rise in Sweden, do you notice it every day?

BS: The development of padel in Sweden is just amazing. Every day more people play it. No matter the level, everyone has fun, and it is now one of the most popular sports in the country.

PM: As the best Swedish player, you find sponsors to be able to live from padel ?

BS: At the moment I can't live on padel. I hope that I will soon find sponsors who will allow me to make a living with the padel. I want to give my all to this sport but for the moment it is difficult since it takes time and money.

PM: We saw that you didn't register for the Estrella Damm Open which takes place in Madrid in a week…

BS: Indeed, I will not participate in this tournament. At the moment I am waiting for the situation regarding the Covid-19 to improve. I'm going to stay in Sweden to train, and hopefully I'll be back in September!

PM: So your partner on the WPT Ana Maria Cabrejas had to look for another teammate?

BS: Yes, we talked about it and I told her I couldn't play the first tournaments. I hope that I will come back soon, and that we will start playing the WPT together again, but for the moment the most important thing for me is not to take any risks. In addition, the ranking is blocked so there is no urgency!

 

Xan is a fan of padel. But also rugby! And his posts are just as punchy. Physical trainer of several padel, he unearths atypical posts or deals with topical subjects. It also gives you some tips to develop your physique for the padel. Clearly, he imposes his offensive style as on the field of padel !

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