There are points that mark a season, others that enter into  the history of padel . The one made by  Fernando Belasteguín  when  World Padel Tour from Alicante  is clearly part of it. A spectacular, unique gesture, now banned... but still remembered by everyone.

At the time,  Fede Chingotto  was still playing with it  Juan Tello , forming one of the most explosive pairs on the circuit. For his part,  Fernando Belasteguín played with Pablo Lima , the Brazilian left-hander, with whom he formed a formidable pair. Yes, it was a long time ago. Another era of padel, where audacity still had its place.

During this match in Alicante in 2018, on a  Chingotto's cushioning , Belasteguín bursts out of the court to try to save the point. But instead of bringing the ball back into the court, he chooses a completely unexpected gesture:  he hits the ball towards Chingotto's bust, located outside the field , and wins the point.

A stroke of genius.  An extraordinary reflex.  A blend of instinct, game intelligence, and risk-taking. And above all, a point the likes of which we won't see again on the professional circuit.

Fernando Belasteguín himself spoke with emotion about this incredible moment:

 "An action we'll never forget, because it was the first time. And we did it with Fede Chingotto, between Pehuajó and Olavarría... At the end of the year, we'll remember it over an asado with Matías Ortiz in Bolívar, like every year with Fede. Next time, we'll have to remember to install a rearview mirror to see if someone is behind us, hahaha!" 

This point not only made an impression because of its rarity. It also changed the way padel is managed. Because since then,  the regulation has evolved . It is now  it is forbidden to hit the ball outwards in an attempt to touch an opponent  or conclude a point outside the playing boundaries. The reason is clear: to ensure player safety, avoid injuries, and better control the playing areas.

But this decision raises questions.  Shouldn't professional padel, in certain cases, allow this type of spectacular action?  Sure, there's a risk. But it's also these crazy sequences that create excitement, that get people talking about padel, that captivate fans.

 Belasteguín's point in Alicante has become cult.  It symbolizes an era, a style, a freedom. An instinctive, free, sometimes improvised way of playing, which has given way to a more standardized, more structured game.

Fernando Belasteguín, true to himself, has forgotten nothing. He will recount this point again, with a smile on his lips,  around an asado  (traditional barbecue   in Argentina)  with Chingotto , as he does every year. And padel lovers will continue to dream of this kind of action, even if it has become banned.

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