José Diestro: “Lower-ranked players suffer much more than those at the top of the rankings”

After several weeks of silence, the Professional Padel Association (PPA) has decided to speak out publicly about the ongoing conflict with Premier Padel and International Federation of Padel (FIP). José Antonio García Diestro, a member of the PPA steering committee, speaks in an interview with Relief to clarify the players' position and their expectations.

Professional players in revolt: the FIP at the heart of an explosive conflict!

A climate of growing tension

The Spanish player insists that the PPA never intended to escalate the situation:

"We have been quiet, we have tried to be careful, because the last thing we want is to make the situation even worse. This is a delicate matter where everyone loses. I doubt there are any winners here."

Diestro insists on the need to my thing, explaining that the players simply want an open dialogue with the governing bodies. He advocates for a frank discussion where each side could express its grievances:

"If it were up to me, I would get up tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock so that we could finally talk and get it off our chests. We have all made mistakes, but we have to move on and fix what can be fixed."

Heavy consequences for players

The crisis between PPA and Premier Padel has already had a direct impact on players, especially those who are not at the top of the rankings. The lack of competition for some is jeopardizing their financial stability:

"Not participating in two tournaments is already very hard for those who are at the bottom of the top 100. The lower ranked players suffer much more than those at the top, who have a certain security."

Diestro emphasizes that the PPA defends all players, regardless of rank, and seeks viable solutions to ensure their professional future:

"We don't just think about the top 10 players, we fight for everyone, whether they are at the top, middle or bottom of the rankings."

The controversy surrounding Lebrón and Stupaczuk

The registration of Juan Lebrón and Franco Stupaczuk au P2 of Cancun, despite the general boycott, has provoked many reactions. However, Diestro adopts a nuanced position and recalls that the PPA remains on the side of the players, whatever their individual decision:

"The association is only focused on defending the players, no matter what they do. I am a close friend of Juan and all I want is for him to be well, like Stupa."

Towards a way out of the crisis?

Diestro still hopes for a favorable outcome and a return to normality for the good of padel:

"I wish I could tell you that we will not reach a point of no return. I wish I could tell you that tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, next Monday, we will all sit down together so that padel progresses. That is what we must all seek."

The PPA's objective remains clear: to bring padel back to heart of the sporting debate, and not extra-sportingIt remains to be seen whether the coming days will finally ease tensions and open the door to negotiations.

Benjamin Dupouy

I discovered padel directly during a tournament, and frankly, I didn't really like it at first. But the second time, it was love at first sight, and since then, I haven't missed a single match. I'm even ready to stay up until 3am to watch a final of Premier Padel !