Professional padel is a constantly evolving world, where associations between players are made and broken as opportunities arise. Javi Garrido, 12th player in the world, is preparing to take on a major challenge in 2025: playing alongside Martin Di Nenno, one of the best right-handers on the tour. At the Wilson event in Barcelona, ​​he spoke about the sometimes difficult reality of a sport where everything hinges on the relationship with your partner.

You spend your life with your partner
Between the courts and the travel, the relationship with a playing partner can be intense. In padel, everything is based on the relationship with your teammate. We spend our days together: we have breakfast, lunch, dinner, we train, we travel, we play… "Imagine doing all that with someone you don't get along with, it's really complicated," he explains.

This proximity is also one of the reasons for the many pairing changes on the circuit. "Often, you don't have time to really test a team. In a few months, everything can stop. And if a higher-ranked player becomes available, it's normal to try your luck with him. Even if obviously, there's more to it, but it's an important parameter to take into account."

A pressure-filled start for the new pairs
When a new partnership is formed, the pressure is immediate. “Everyone knows that if a better opportunity comes along, the partnership can end overnight. From the beginning, this uncertainty looms. It’s stressful, but you have to trust your partner and try. If it doesn’t work out, you change.”

However, for Javi, ranking is not the only criterion that matters. It's not always a question of rank. We also look at the player's potential and his compatibility with the partner. Some bets, with lower ranked players, can surprise and work."

A bygone era for long collaborations
In today's padel, long associations between players have become rare. "Ten or 10 years ago, pairs would play together for years. Today, if a team stays together for more than a year, it is already exceptional. It shows how much the sport has changed. But I think that this instability will gradually decrease. For the good of padel, it would be a good thing."

In conclusion, Javi observes the progress of padel with enthusiasm. "The sport is evolving at an incredible speed, whether in terms of players, strategies or organization. Today's padel has nothing to do with the one I started with."

With Martin Di Nenno at his side, Javi Garrido is preparing to take on a new challenge. An alliance that could well propel them among the best pairs of the 2025 season.

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.