At 21, the young Argentinian Joaquin Mazzeo was playing his first tournament in France at Beausoleil for the A1 Padel French Open. Based in Valencia, the young Argentinian continues to fight hard to find a place in the professional world, even if it means making some sacrifices.

Argentinian by birth, Spain as a land of learning

I am from Argentina, but very small I arrived in Spain and currently I am training in Valencia. With Jorge Ferro (his teammate) we have always trained together. Everyday we are at the Bellmont Padel Academy. We do everything there, physical and training.

Joaquin Mazzeo and Jorge Ferre

To be professional is to make a lot of sacrifices

When we arrive at the weekend and you can go out with friends, you must be at the tournaments or traveling. You don't see your family much. Last month I only stayed home for a week. Being professional means making a lot of sacrifices.

I started tournaments on this circuit about two or three years ago, mentally I hold the shock but physically, it can be complicated. For example, for this tournament, we came from Valencia by car and it was a 12 hour drive. It's a long journey and it made us very tired.

This year is a good time to study, from September I would like to be able to resume my studies.

The A1 Padel relies heavily on young people

When I leave for stages of the circuit, the routines are similar. It differs depending on whether I take the car or the plane. Ideally, I prepare all my things in advance.

What I like about this personalised tour – and that's often what people don't see – it's the way we're treated. Everything we want, we have it, the organizers are at our disposal. This circuit relies heavily on young people, both on and off the pitch, whether for hotels, meals, we are really happy with the organization of the stages.

What is the most difficult is to know our rivals. There are a lot of players who play on the circuit, they come from all over but mostly from South America and we don't know them very well.

Joaquin Mazzeo

A good understanding behind the scenes

The players who come from Europe, we almost all know each other, there is a good atmosphere. There is a little bit of rivalry but we help each other a lot and we get along very well.  

After achieving a perfect pre-previa alongside Jorge Ferre, his Spanish partner, they finally lost this morning at the previas 7/5 6/0 against the Spanish pair Batista/Campos (TS30).

Watch the video interview :

Vincent Gallie

A fan of oval football, round ball but also racket sports, he was stung by the padel during his adolescence in Galicia. As comfortable in front of the camera as behind a microphone, Vince will be able to bring his vision and expertise as a fan of the little yellow ball.

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