Jessica Castello: "Before, there were maybe eight competitive pairs and a big gap with the others"

At an ASICS event dedicated to the new range of shoes designed for padel, Jessica castello took stock of his season, his ambitions for 2026 and the importance of equipment in a discipline where speed, explosiveness and stability become fundamental.
Between lucidity, ambition and an eye on the progress of the women's circuit, the Spanish player is looking forward to the new season with enthusiasm.

A year-end marked by rest and rebuilding

After a 2025 season marked by good moments but also some periods of inconsistency, Jessica Castello approaches the coming weeks with a clear objective: Disconnect to recharge .

"I want to rest, take a break, and recharge my batteries. Then, I'm really looking forward to starting 2026 and getting back to my best form, because this year has had its ups and downs."

This desire to start again on a more stable footing comes in a context where the women's circuit has experienced unprecedented intensity, with increased competition from the early rounds and several surprise exits of top seeds, as analyzed on several occasions by the teams of Padel Magazine.

Like many professional players, Castello emphasizes the importance of the shoe , an element often underestimated by the general public but fundamental in a sport that multiplies changes of support, explosive reactions and lateral movements.

"The shoe is the most important thing with the pala. A good shoe allows me to play well, feel comfortable, and move correctly. If the shoe isn't comfortable, it's impossible. This is very noticeable in injury prevention and in daily performance."

The player also points out that the new ASICS model gives her exactly what she is looking for:
"If I'm comfortable in my shoes, it shows immediately in competition. In my case, the Sonic Smash is exactly what I'm looking for."

Jessica Castello: "Before, there were perhaps eight competitive pairs and a large gap with the others." — Credit PP

A co-creation process with ASICS: direct feedback and field testing

Jessica Castello is one of the players involved in the testing and development phases of new models.
Recently, she participated in a working session at the ASICS offices in Rotterdam.

“We were able to give our feedback: what each person needs, what we would like to change. Each player is different: Coki needs one thing, Mike another, and I need something else.”

She specifies her own requirements, centered around the lightness and speed :
"I need a shoe that's lightweight, comfortable as soon as I put it on, and that allows me to feel fast when I move. I don't like overly rigid models."

This collaborative work between athletes and ASICS' R&D department is now one of the pillars of the brand, particularly visible in the explosion of adoptions of ASICS models over the last two seasons.

A women's circuit undergoing a major transformation: "The level has increased incredibly."

Jessica Castello takes a clear-eyed look at the evolution of women's padel, whose progress marked the entire 2025 season.

"The level has evolved enormously. Before, there were perhaps eight truly competitive pairs and a big gap between them and the others. This year, we've seen many teams reach the final rounds and a lot of surprises. It's very positive for women's padel."

The player mentions several factors:

un physical work significantly superior,
another strength improvement and intensity,
a technically much cleaner game
another general competition The matches become closer and less predictable.

These findings confirm what many observers — Padel Magazine leading the way — have been describing for several months: women's padel is experiencing a historic acceleration, driven in particular by the arrival of new players who are better prepared, more powerful and more tactical.

Heading towards 2026 with ambition and determination

With a clear desire to restore order, gain consistency and rediscover her best version, Jessica Castello approaches 2026 with ambition.
His speech blends technical lucidity, awareness of the demands of the highest level, and enthusiasm for a season where everything seems possible.

"The level will continue to rise and there will be even more competition. This is very positive for us."

In a women's circuit more open than ever, the Spanish player knows that good preparation — physical, mental… and technological — will be essential to play her part in the battle that is coming from the first tournaments of 2026.

Eléah Couvercelle

Racket sports have always been a part of my life, and padel was the obvious choice. Discovered in Marbella as a child, it has since become an integral part of my sporting and family life.