"He should have stopped his career last year". "This is one season too many for Bela“. These are the recurring comments under the posts about Fernando Belasteguin. Aged 45, the Argentinian had announced, at the end of last year, that 2024 would be his last year as a professional player.

A shock for everyone, including the players, who did not expect the departure of the man who had reigned over world padel for 16 years.

Disappointing results?

The months go by, the tributes come one after the other, but Fernando Belasteguin's results have never lived up to the Argentinian's career. Since the beginning of the competition, King Bela has been summed up as:

  • 9 defeats in the first round
  • 4 defeats in the second round
  • 7 quarter-finals
  • only one semi-final

A sad observation for the former world number 1... Despite the regular changes of partners this season, the Boss never managed to find the teammate with whom he shone in 2024.

Partner parade

In addition to these far from convincing results, Fernando Belasteguin has not managed to find the player who would suit him this season. At the beginning of the year, Bela started alongside the left-hander I fight CapraIt is clear that after a few months, the association is not working and the Argentinian has to change his approach...

capra belasteguin 2024

Bela later joined forces with Juan Tello, which promised an interesting association with a Fernando Belasteguin returning to the right. Unfortunately, the mayonnaise still does not take and the two players end up separating, just before the Paris Major.

Fernando Belasteguin's last teammate, the one with whom he would end his career, is Tino Libaak. A young promise of Argentine padel, this association had everything to work… but no. Once again, things did not go as planned for the Argentine pair who suffered a series of defeats in the first round. The end of the year was tough for Bela who, on top of that, would miss the Master Final in Barcelona.

Fernando Belasteguin loses his place at the Master Final 2024 – Still a hope…

One year too many?

In the end, after this more than complicated year 2024, only one question remains: was it one year too many for Fernando Belasteguin? Many think so, starting with Lisandro Borges, tournament organizer and president of the Argentine Association of Padel (not recognized by the FIP). The promoter had declared last August "Bela, don't retire looking pitiful, you are tarnishing your career“. A scathing statement towards the Boss.

Fernando Belasteguin wanted to end his career in the best possible way… but shouldn’t he have done it in 2022? This year was King Bela’s last good year. Indeed, in 2022, Belasteguin won his last tournament at the Mexico Major alongsideArturo Coello...

The last triumph of Fernando Belasteguín

That same year, Bela became world champion again with the Argentine team. His last title in the national team sincehe had not been called up by the selectors for the 2024 World Championships.

2024 will remain a sad year for the Boss, who now only has one tournament left: the Milano P1.

Gwenaelle Souyri

It was her brother who one day told her to accompany him to a padel court, since then, Gwenaëlle has never left the court. Except when it comes to going to watch the retransmission of Padel Magazine, World Padel Tour… or Premier Padel…or the French Championships. In short, she is a fan of this sport.

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