Nearly two years after leaving the professional circuit,  Fernando Belasteguín  He has clearly lost none of his competitive spirit. The former world number 1 has rediscovered  Tino Libaak, Javi Garrido and Lucas Bergamini  for a session at  White Padel Center with one particular feature: the four men recreated the poster for the last match of the "Boss'" career.

And this time, the scenario would have been very different, to the point of prompting a reaction from Garrido after training:  "If it had ended like that in Milan, he would still be playing, because today he gave us a thrashing." 

The remake of Bela's last match

We need to go back to  2024  To understand the wink. For one of his last matches on the circuit Premier Padel,  Belasteguín played alongside Tino Libaak  face  Javi Garrido / Lucas Bergamini .

The two Argentinians had then lost.  6 / 3 6 / 4 , in the final weeks of Bela's immense career, which began on the professional circuit in 1994.

Almost two years later, the four men found themselves back on the track, this time at  White Padel Barcelona Center Same team composition:  Bela / Libaak against Garrido / Bergamini .

«  I just had a déjà vu experience.  ", Belasteguín joked.

Except this time, the Argentinian pair seemed to have gotten their revenge. A session convincing enough to prompt Garrido to joke about the level still displayed by the former world number 1.

Bela has even changed his game since his retirement

Even more surprising,  Belasteguín appears to have added a new weapon to his arsenal.  since his retirement.

For much of his career, the Argentinian distinguished himself by his bandeja and his ability to construct points rather than by a systematic search for power. But against Libaak, Garrido, and Bergamini, Bela began to use the  viper .

The reason? Much more pragmatic than tactical.

"Now I don't have the legs to get behind and play the bandeja, so I play the víboras... and they go in!"

Before laughing about it himself:  "If I had discovered it sooner... I wouldn't have run as much!" 

A small, belated evolution for a player who has nevertheless spent three decades adapting his padel to generations, partners, and the evolution of the game.

Always in contact with the very highest level

This session shows above all that  Bela remains very close to professional padel Since his retirement, the Argentinian continues to train and regularly welcomes professional players to his center in Barcelona.

For  Libaak, Garrido and Bergamini The training also served as preparation before the resumption of the circuit. Libaak will now launch his new project with  Gonza Alfonso , while Garrido and Bergamini continue their partnership in this second part of the season.

Tino Libaak summarized the session in a few words:  "Enjoy and learn with the Boss." 

Belasteguín, for his part, is obviously no longer preparing for a tournament. But nearly two years after his retirement,  The player, who finished 16 seasons as world number 1, still seems capable of giving today's professionals a hard time. And when he finds himself facing exactly the same three players who were present during one of his last matches on the circuit, the spirit of competition is never far away.

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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