Jonas Björkman, a former Swedish tennis figure, will be the Captain of the Swedish padel team. Padel Magazine meets him to discuss his new position and his ambitions in padel.

Swedish team captain

Franck Binisti: Can you tell us how you came to be captain of the Swedish national padel team?

Jonas Björkman:“It happened by surprise two weeks ago. Five years ago we launched our chain of padel clubs Swedish Patientdatalagen. So I have been very committed to our business over the past five years as we grow. I started playing a few tournaments and really having fun. ”

“Four weeks ago, I received a call from the federation offering me this position. The main reason is that they asked the top 20 players, and my name came up the most. It was decisive for me and I hope I can bring my tennis experience to it. ”

Franck Binisti: Do you have an explanation of the magnitude of padel in Sweden ?

Jonas Björkman :"It's incredible. I think it's a similar boom to the one Spain had earlier. The key factor was the large number of Swedish travellers who discovered it. We managed to arouse people's curiosity when we introduced padel to Sweden. Once you start playing, you progress and have fun quickly."

“In tennis it is much more difficult to learn to play, whereas in padel you just have to pick up the racket and have fun.”

Franck Binisti: In tennis, you were a doubles specialist, that must help you in padel, right?

Jonas Björkman:"I think yes. In addition, I was a very offensive player in singles, and I went up to the net a lot. My strength in singles allowed me to become the doubles player that I became. In padel, for volleys, and half-volleys it was easier. The most difficult task was to let the ball bounce against the glass. In tennis, if the ball passes the point is over. Before I played “padel tennis”, but now I can say that I play padel!”

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35 padel clubs

Franck Binisti: Your adventure in padel began with your investment. Do you want to continue investing?

Jonas Björkman:"We have 35 PDL centers open right now. We will be opening many more this year, including a PDL center in Zurich. We also start with the Norway, and the centers will open later this year. ”

Franck Binisti: Do you also invest in tennis, or only in padel?

Jonas Björkman :“I have not invested in tennis. I love this sport, I am a commentator at Eurosport. My passion is still tennis, but padel allows me to still play. It has become a business, because there are great opportunities."

“I want to pass on my experience”

Franck Binisti: Can we imagine you as a player for the national padel team?

Jonas Björkman :"I do not think so. It's not fair that I'm on the team, I'm too old. My level is probably good enough if I prepare myself. But in my new position I prefer pass on to the new generation padel players.”

Franck Binisti: You have won the Davis Cup three times. Is it a goal for you to be the captain of the national tennis team?

Jonas Björkman "No, not anymore. After my career, it was a possibility but it was never offered to me. I was assistant captain for a year. Now, I'm not looking for that anymore, I prefer to do it in padel because it's a new sport. Plus I'm very busy now.”

“More partners, fewer enemies”

Franck Binisti: What are your goals with the Swedish selection? 

Jonas Björkman:"Concerning the european championships, I think it will all depend on whether Spain will participate or not. If they play, our goal will be to be between 2nd and 4th place. On the euro denier, Sweden finished 3rd. ”

"Concerning the World's Championships, we want to be in the top 8. "

Franck Binisti: We will probably have two European Championships again this year. What do you think about this situation? Which European Championship will Sweden go to?

Jonas Björkman : “I think it's not good for our sport. If sport is to grow internationally, more partnerships between federations are needed. It is the same situation betweenAPT and the WPT.  You cannot have organizations that fight. We need to find a way to work together to make padel grow. You have to think about the long term and not the short term. I think we need more partners, and fewer enemies. ”

“As a tennis player, I am shocked by this situation. Sweden will not go for two Euros. I do not know yet which one we will go to, but the federation does know and will communicate it to me. I will probably find out next week. ”

Find the video interview just below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IgBxW9aHSk&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=PadelMagazine

From his names, we can guess his Spanish and Italian origins. Lorenzo is a multilingual passionate about sports: journalism by vocation and events by worship are his two legs. He is the international gentleman of Padel Magazine. You will often see him at various international competitions, but also at major French events. @eyeofpadel on Instagram to see his best padel photos!

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