Interview with Argentine Maria José Sbrascini, triple world champion of padel, and head coach of the stays offered by Sports Prestige in the French and Spanish Basque Country. 

 Maria Jose Sbrascini , triple world padel champion, is  coach in San Sebastian , in the Spanish Basque Country. She collaborates with  Sports Prestige  since the launch in 2023 of internships in this superb city located barely half an hour from Biarritz. Argentina has led several Sport Prestige courses, combining training, followed by stretching sessions (with the K-Stretch method) and matches against local players.

Novelty,  from 9 to 11 May 2024 , the launch of a  100% female internship , always at  San Sebastian . Maria José Sbrascini, in enjoyable French, tells us more about her career and her vision as a coach on the other side of the Pyrenees, where padel is still one step ahead of France...

His story with padel

“What I immediately liked about padel was the pleasure I had playing! I liked the speed, the
changes of pace, continuity of the game. And there was also a very interesting social interaction because in padel, everyone plays with everyone, to share a good time.

Before padel, I played tennis: I started at the age of 6 in the city of La Plata in Argentina, then I quickly progressed to competition, all over the country. I won quite a few tournaments. It was at the age of 17 that I started playing padel, thanks to a professional player, Gustavo Asnaghi. I quickly won tournaments locally and I moved into the professional world in 1991. I won three world padel champion titles, in Madrid in 1992 and 1996 and then in Mexico in 2002. Alongside my career, I studied sports and, over time, I specialized in teaching padel. I became a professional coach in Argentina and then in Spain, in San Sebastian, 15 years ago.”

Maria Jose Sbrascini

In France, padel is a young sport

“Personally, I think that French players must go through a logical process of adaptation
in padel. In France, padel is a young sport, there are very few "pure" padel players, many
come from tennis, squash, pelota… and, of course, “drag” the specific technique of their basic sport.

In fact, French players often play very quickly and move straight forward. In Spain,
Today, padel has evolved and developed its own methodology: players are faster,
use effects and rhythm changes together. Their movements are more precise, all due to years of practice and constant adaptations. French players will also improve their game by integrating these specific skills, they just need time.”

Maria's advice to her students for high balls

“All learning must take time, it is crucial to first acquire a good basic technique
(band, bajada,, vibra et roller), know how to position yourself, be “compact”, control rotation, inertia… Then, the player must improve movement and control of the ball, all these factors are determining factors for logical and sustained development over time. We go from easy to difficult.”

Maria Jose Sbrascini

Maria's educational approach

“The main objective is to provide players with knowledge and information, both technical and tactical. In the Sport Prestige camps, I work with a teaching system that I have called “The spaces of padel” where through colors, speeds, positions and situations, the
Participants will be able to understand the how and why of the actions to be carried out. A very system
visual, practical and dynamic, with a lot of information, easy to internalize and which clearly allows you to acquire technical/tactical concepts adapted to the possibilities of each player and thinking about their evolution.”

The future of padel according to Maria

“The future of padel is immense, this sport has not yet reached its peak! At the amateur level, we can
practicing at all ages and at all levels, we create important bonds between people, which
persist over time, which generates the opening of new clubs, tournaments, and schools of all levels every day.

On a professional level, it is already quite a spectacle, increasingly publicized. The business continues to grow, sponsors and brands are very present in Spain, but also in many countries like France. There are real stars, the pro circuit is very followed because the game is spectacular. The players are well prepared and, above all, train hard to be at the top level, because padel is a demanding sport. As in tennis, to enter the top 50, you have to make enormous sacrifices!”

Would you like to know more about Sport Prestige courses? It's here : https://www.sport-prestige.fr/.

Dorian Massy

New padel fan, I am fascinated by this dynamic sport that combines strategy and agility. I find in padel a new passion to explore and share with you on Padel Magazine.

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