Coki Nieto is one of the most popular players in Premier Padel, recognized for his solid and atypical playing. Alongside Jon sanz, and under the supervision of the former world top player Maxi Grabiel, Coki talks to us about the dynamics within his team, the strategy on the field and the opportunities that a career as a professional player can offer. Between defense and attacking play, Coki confides with humor and sincerity au Padel Asics Summit.

With Jon, sometimes we don't talk on the dance floor.

Franck Binisti:
This is a bit of a special interview. We're going to try to sound out the team. Get ready! (laughs)

I wanted to know who is the "boss". Because sometimes it's you, sometimes it's Jon sanz, or it changes depending on the moment.

Coki Nieto:
(laughing) The boss is Maxi. (editor’s note: Maxi Grabiel, former world top player)

There is no leader, there is no “he is the leader and the other follows”. No. First, we form a team up, we are at the same level. When one is in a bit of difficulty, the other pulls up.

Franck Binisti:
During matches, we notice that you talk a lot, and other times, you say almost nothing. It's quite surprising.

Coki Nieto:
Yes, that's true. Sometimes we don't talk to each other, each of us is lost in our own thoughts for a few minutes, and then it passes. But there is a good atmosphere between us, and as soon as the little annoyance has passed, we become a close-knit team again. But hey, like everyone else, we have moments of tension, a Maxi, on the bench, often helps us overcome this.

Coki Nieto
Coki Nieto
Coki Nieto
Coki Nieto
Coki Nieto

If it had gone well with Cardona, I probably would have continued with him.

Franck Binisti:
You have already been asked about the temporary association between Sanz et Galan. So I'll try to ask it differently: if Galan asks you to play with him, do you accept or not?

Coki Nieto:
Ale Galan was a opportunity for Jon. A great opportunity. At the end of the day, it's his career, it's a job, and I'm rooting for him. It was an incredible opportunity for him, and I, in the meantime, had to find another partner for tournaments and try to do my best. If it had gone well with Cardona, for example, I probably would have continued with him. But well, we didn't get the results we wanted, so I played with Jon again after he came back from injury.

Coki Nieto

If Coello had asked me to play with him, I would have accepted too.

Franck Binisti:
Tomorrow, if a player ranked higher than you asks you to play with him, will you change partners?

Coki Nieto:
It's here padel life. One Coello had offered me to play with him, I would have accepted too. It's a great opportunity, and Jon would have understood it, as I understood it in his situation with Galan.
It's normal, that's how padel works.

My coaches have been asking me to play on the right since I was little.

Franck Binisti:
Another point I wanted to talk about: you have a rather particular style of play. You have a game defensive solid, but offensively, you are not necessarily seen as the most aggressive on the left side. But why Coki Nieto Doesn't he play on the right? Many people ask themselves this question.

Coki Nieto:
Yes, my game is more oriented towards the to the defense. I've been told this several times. But at the same time, I don't think I absolutely have to play on the right.

My coaches have told me that too, since I was little. But I was lucky to have partners aggressive alongside me. I always look to play with left-handed or right-handed people who are offensive, because it allows me to play my own game, more solid and defensive. I work the point so that my partner can close it. But if I find myself with a less aggressive partner, I try to increase my aggressiveness to compensate.

Coki Nieto binisti penso grabiel
Coki Nieto asics

If Galan asks me, it's hard to refuse

Franck Binisti:
In recent years, we have seen a lot of players changing sides. Let's imagine that Gallant asks you to play right with him. What would you say?

Coki Nieto:
It would be hard to refuse. Of course, I would accept. But it would be a real challenges, because I don't know if I could be a competent enough right-handed player to play with Gallant. I would have to train seriously to find out.

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.

On the same subject

Tags