Focus on Marta Caparros, one of best progress this year on the World Padel Tour. Indeed, the 21-year-old player from Malaga went from the Top 70 to the Top 40 in a few months! Interview.

“I liked the competition”

Padel Magazine : For those who don't know you, can you tell us your story with the padel ?

Marta Caparros: I started on padel when I was eleven years old. There was a track in the residence where we lived with my parents. They started playing it regularly and when they were done I would get on the court and that's how I started.

At that time we were taking tennis lessons with my sister, but I didn't really like it. I never played a single match, it was just lessons! the padel immediately seemed much more fun to me.

PM: When did you realize that you had the potential to become a professional player?

MC: Let's say that during youth competitions, several people told me that they thought I had potential, that if I worked a lot at the physical level, I had a chance of playing well. But I never really thought about turning professional, I just liked competition.

PM: What is your best memory on a track of padel ?

MC: I can't keep just one! I'll have to say three (laughs).

First of all, there is the first time that I entered into a painting of the World Padel Tour. It was “at home”, in Marbella, and with a very good friend, Carmen Castillón.

Then there is the final of the Spanish Minors Championship for my last year as a youth. It was also “at home”, in Málaga this time, and again with Carmen Castillón and all my family and friends cheering, it was really something special!

And finally, a more recent memory is this year, for my first eighth on an Open du World Padel Tour. It was in Vienna with my partner Marta Barrera. This confirmed the good season we were having.

Marta-Barrera-and-Marta-Caparros-2022-WPT
Marta Barrera and Marta Caparros

An atypical right-hand player

PM: Even if you are one of the tallest players on the circuit (1.83m), you have the particularity of playing on the right. Have you ever considered going left? Do you think your height is an advantage? What are your best shots?

MC: Yes, I am often told that I should play on the left. I have already tried but for the moment I feel more comfortable on the right side.

I think my height allows me to be an aggressive right-hander, and with an offensive left-hander we can make a tough pair to lob.

My best shots, I don't know, I think I still have a lot of progress to make, but let's say that the shot that gives me the most pleasure is the bandeja. I also think my serve, although technically very very ugly, is quite effective.

Marta-Caparros-preparation-bandeja-2022

PM: This year you have experienced spectacular progress. Do you know exactly how many places you won? How do you explain this rise in the ranking?

MC: I don't know exactly how many places I won this year, I don't care more than that about the ranking. I must have started the season around 70th place and today I am number 38.

In my opinion, the progress can be explained by a sum of several factors: the work that has been in place for many years, the relationship I have with the team around me...and of course the agreement with the partner. the padel is a sport that is played in pairs, and regardless of the level of the players, I think the most important thing is to manage to find osmosis with your partner. And I think with Marta we do that very well. We get along very well, we can talk about everything, we have a great time… and I think it shows on the track afterwards!

PM: What are your short and long term goals?

My short-term goals are to improve in many areas, to continue the work put in place after each tournament, whether physically, mentally, technically or tactically. The idea is to be able to continue to progress to settle permanently in the main draws and be more comfortable during these laps of the final draws.

In the longer term, I would say that what I would like is to be able to live padel and reach my maximum.

“Learn from the best”

PM: You and your partner live and train in Andalusia. Unlike the majority of players on the circuit who are in Madrid or Barcelona, ​​you prove that it is possible to play at a high level without living in one of these two cities.

MC: I am very happy with the team I have, I feel very well surrounded. With Andreína (De Los Santos), my coach, we try to set up training sessions that are as complete as possible. Here in Málaga there are several girls who play on the professional circuits, and there are also boys who play very well and allow us to have very interesting training matches. But I recognize that sometimes it's not always easy to find parts that look like what we will be able to find in competition.

PM: Today you are in the Top 40, what do you need to get into the Top 20 and be able to live fully from padel ?

MC: That I prefer to keep to myself (laughs)! The competition is very tough and to win your place you have to train a lot at all levels, learn from the best, believe in yourself… I'm convinced that with this attitude, good things will happen!

Xan is a fan of padel. But also rugby! And his posts are just as punchy. Physical trainer of several padel, he unearths atypical posts or deals with topical subjects. It also gives you some tips to develop your physique for the padel. Clearly, he imposes his offensive style as on the field of padel !

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