Lorenzo DiGiovanni, Italian player of 1m90, ranked 121st in the world, has been a key member of the Italian national padel team for 4 years. A former tennis player, he discovered padel in 2018, after spending more than 20 years on the tennis courts. In this interview, Lorenzo looks back on the evolution of the Italian team, marked by the integration of young Italian talents and players of Argentinian origin. He also shares his attachment to the double game, a dimension that he particularly appreciates in padel compared to tennis…

At ASCIS Padel Summit, on the sidelines of the Madrid P1, we interviewed and discovered Lorenzo.

You have been in the Italian national team for 4 years. What is the difference between 2020 and 2024 in the national team?

Lorenzo DiGiovanni : Well, the national team is changing a lot. That's a good thing. It means we have new players, young people who are playing well and getting very good results.

Do you think your team today is better than before?

Lorenzo DiGiovanni : Yes, I think that's for sure. What makes the difference for me is the level of the players Italian has increased enormously compared to 4 years ago. We have Argentinian players who play for Italy, but I think the real change is the raising of the level of Italian players.

A few months ago, it was not known how many Italian players would be in the national team. In the end, there were not that many…

Lorenzo DiGiovanni : Yes, I think it was the right decision. These players can train with us for one or two weeks and share their experience. It's a good mix, and I think it helps us play better. It's good to mix the Italian players et Argentine.

I am curious to know what other nations think of our team. Of course, we are stronger with these players, but they are Italian, so it's a fair choice.

It is very important to have Italian players in the team, while benefiting from the experience of Argentine.

Lorenzo Di Giovanni: The evolution of the Italian team and the importance of doubles play

Many players come from tennis, like Marco Cassetta, with whom we spoke recently. Is that also the case for you?

Lorenzo DiGiovanni : Yes, I have always played tennis. I tried to become a professional, playing on the ITF circuit and in Futures tournaments. At 25, I stopped playing professionally and started coaching tennis players. In 2018, I started playing tennis paddle.

So, you've been playing padel since 2018?

Lorenzo DiGiovanni : Yes, exactly. It's been about six years now.

How did you discover padel?

Lorenzo DiGiovanni : In the city where I played tennis, Bologna, there were already two padel courts in 2006-2007. But I didn't get interested in it right away. One of my tennis teammates, who often trained in Spain, played padel every day and encouraged me to try. But at the time, I was too focused on tennis. Ten years later, I became crazy about padel! (laughs)

Are you more passionate about padel today than you were about tennis before?

Lorenzo DiGiovanni : That’s a tough question. I started both sports at different times in my life, so it’s hard to compare. Tennis is still my favorite sport, but I’ve only been playing padel for a few years.

You haven't touched a tennis racket in three years?

Lorenzo DiGiovanni : No, and it's sad. But as a professional padel player, I have to focus 100% on padel. There is not enough time to play both sports at the same time.

Do you have a trainer who follows you regularly?

Lorenzo DiGiovanni : Yes, I have a coach, but I don't work with a specialized coach every week. As a former tennis coach, I know what I need to improve, but having a coach is always important, especially for the mental aspect.

Afterwards, I have a particular opinion on the matter. A good coach is precisely a coach who must not have a financial interest with you, I think. Because otherwise, he will not really be able to tell you things as they are. This is a very particular point, and I tell you this having coached tennis myself. You have to be able and ready to say no to assert yourself. The problem is that the financial link between the coach and the player can deteriorate the professional relationship.

In padel, is it more difficult to play alone or with someone?

Lorenzo DiGiovanni : What I like about the paddle, it is precisely the fact of playing in team up, even if it's in doubles. Sharing the difficulties and successes on the court with a teammate is something I missed a lot in tennis.

How many partners have you had in the last four years?

Lorenzo DiGiovanni : I played three years with Ricardo Sinicropi, then with Salandro, Cattaneo, Simone Cremona, and now I'm playing with it again SynicropesThat's about five partners in five years.

It's pretty stable compared to other players.

Lorenzo DiGiovanni : Yes, I think it's important to have a long-term project with a teammate. Each player tries to establish a lasting relationship to better progress together.

Last question, you mentioned the importance of a coach. Do you think it is essential to have a coach during tournaments?

Lorenzo DiGiovanni : Yes, for me it is very important. A coach can really help you change your strategy during a match. In tennis, I like the idea of ​​playing alone on the court, without a coach, but in padel, having a coach to guide you is a major asset.

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.

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