The new pair Tino Libaak / Javi Garrido is still being tested. Their official debut at Premier Padel from Brussels didn't quite live up to expectations, with an elimination in the first round. But far from being discouraged, the two partners made decisions to bounce back.

A strategic choice: the FIP Silver Alcalá de Guadaíra

Libaak and Garrido made a surprising choice by signing up for the FIP Silver Andalucía Alcalá de Guadaíra. A tournament of lower level than the trials Premier Padel, but which represents a perfect opportunity to gain rhythm.

It's not every day that you see players of this caliber at an FIP Silver level. But after their elimination in Brussels, the goal is simple: play matches in a row to regain reflexes and confidence. This tournament allows you to avoid the pitfall of seeded players in the early rounds, allowing time to fine-tune your settings without the pressure of big matches.

For Javi Garrido, who has experienced several changes of partners in recent months, it is also an opportunity to stabilize its dynamics with Libaak, just 19 years old. Finding the right benchmarks takes time, and this type of competition is ideal for refining strategies.

A thoughtful approach

The choice of FIP Silver Andalucía is not an isolated one. Taking advantage of the three-week break in the calendar Premier Padel, other pairs have also decided to line up in this Andalusian tournament, such as Javi Garcia and Javi BarahonaA way for everyone to stay in the rhythm without rushing things.

Entry-list-Fip-Silver-Alcala-de-Guadaira-Mv5 (1)Download

Belasteguín's precious help

Libaak and Garrido also decided to draw on experience. And not just any experience: they solicited Fernando Belasteguín, the recently retired Argentinian legend, to accompany them during training.

Bela, true to himself, took this session with humor: “I'm going to train with Tino and Javi. They started badly by losing their first match and want to build confidence by making me run even though I'm already retired, but I'm going to make it difficult for them.”

This session is not the result of chance. Belasteguín and Garrido share the same sponsor (Wilson) and maintain a friendly relationship for a while. Tino Libaak, for his part, knows Bela well, having been his last partner on the tour. A special bond that undoubtedly facilitated the legend's return to the courts.

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 !

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