Padel Magazine - FOCUS on the pair that caused a sensation this season: Cristian Gutierrez and Matias DIAZ.

Talking about revelation for these 2 players may seem surprising since they have been on the professional circuit for many years. It is on their association and their complementarity that many specialists had doubts about their probable performance.

Let's focus on Cristian GUTIERREZ first.

He is of the same generation as Juan Martin DIAZ and Fernando BELASTEGUIN. A long time partner of “baby” AUGUSTE then of Seba NERONE, we can say that he has always lived in the shadow of Fernando and Juan Martin. Certainly as technically gifted as them, if not more, he lacks athletic power and lacks a powerful smash. He compensates for this deficit with an exceptional tactical and technical science. Cristian GUTIERREZ is the perfect model of the right-wing player, he builds points like no one else, he makes his opponents work (and very often explode).

Matias DIAZ has meanwhile made a big part of his career with Miguel LAMPERTI. Together, they had no equals to ignite the public. Fiery, nervous, demonstrative and bursting with energy, Matias fights on every ball with as much motivation. Like MAXI GABRIEL and Sanyo GUTIERREZ, Matias DIAZ embodies the player of the right complete, solid, hard worker with strong point his defense.

Once this has been explained, you may have understood how the association of Cristian and Matias may have seemed confusing at first: they have always played exclusively on the right in their careers !!

It is therefore Cristian who has changed sides and who now plays on the left, Matias keeps his place on the right.

Second characteristic of this team: it is the only one in the top 20 of the World Padel Tour who does not play Australian when she serves. Indeed, in service, Matias and Cristian switch at each point, so there is no real attacker and defender in this team.

As a result, Cristian and Matias matches are always exciting to follow when you like the Padel. Each point is extremely contested, very long, it is extremely rare that Cristian tries the smash hit to finish the point (maybe 2 per set, no more) Matias dares him to finish the point by hitting, but it is always by hitting straight ahead, very rarely when leaving the ball on the side. It is from their strong point, defense, that Cristian and Matias build their point.

Below, a magnificent match against the world number 2 in the final of the World Padel Tour  de la Coruña 2013:

To say the least, it's that it works! This year, Cristian and Matias complete the podium of the teams to have reached at least once the final of the World Padel Tour, and even to have won the tournament. Indeed, Cristian and Matias participated in 4 finals and won 2 tournaments !!

Clément FORGET - Padel Magazine.

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovers the padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since padel is part of his life. You often see him touring France going to cover the major events of padel French.

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