Lucas Bergamini: Injury, tensions with Navarro? He reflects on the match against Aguirre and Alfonso

Le  Brésilien , 16th player in the world, currently present at  USA  for the  Miami P1 , where he qualified for the quarter-finals alongside  Paquito Navarro , will meet the world number 1s. He spoke at the microphone of  Padel Review  following the match against  Tolito Aguirre  et  Gonzalo Alfonso , in a tense atmosphere!

Injured in the sixteenth against  Aguirre / Alfonso 

The pair  Bergamini / Navarro  had to fight for his first round at  Miami P1  facing tough opponents, the Argentinians  Tolito Aguirre  et  Gonzalo Alfonso , who remained on two titles in  FIP  and two finals in  Premier Padel . A victory in 2h30 of play, at the end of three sets: 7/6 3/6 6/2. A match won in pain, notably physical for  Bergamini , who felt discomfort in his left leg during the meeting.

“Yesterday, at the end of the second set, I felt some discomfort, like a pinch or a tightness. I didn't know if it was a muscle tear or a cramp, but I felt a pain in my left thigh that started to hamper me a little. In the end, I didn't know exactly what it was and I was afraid to move. The more I pushed, the more it pulled. Fortunately, with the help of the physiotherapist, I was able to recover a little. […] Over time, the pain spread to my right thigh as well. If you look closely, I avoided playing too close to the net so as not to force it. I also adapted my shots.”

A pain that raised questions about the rest of the competition. Qualified for the round of 16, the  7th pair in the world  had to face the  pair 14  of the tournament, composed of  Lucas Campagnolo  et  Maximilian Sanchez . A victory in two sets (6/3 7/6), which allows them to reach the quarter-finals for a very tough duel against  Coello  et  Wall .

“Two very solid players (Campagnolo and Sanchez), especially on a slow court. I think we adapted to the court conditions better than our opponents. […] Here, we have to adjust some shots. For example, I had to modify my bandeja to give it more spin and prevent it from bouncing too much. […] We played well in the first set, but we wasted several opportunities in the second, which shouldn't happen. But our opponents were able to manage the important points well. Despite that, I'm very happy to be in the quarterfinals.”

His relationship with his teammate  Paquito Navarro 

If some feared tensions within the  7th pair in the world , especially after the behavior of  Paquito Navarro , deemed inappropriate by spectators and specialists in  paddle , both in his body language and in his interactions with his teammate during the round of 16 against the Argentinians  Aguirre  et  Alfonso ,  Brazilian Bergamini  was keen to clear up any misunderstanding, stating that there are no relationship problems between them.

"With  Paco , we talk a lot during the match. He's very expressive, and I like that he has these emotional ups and downs, because it pushes him to get back into it and want to win even more. My role is to stay strong and manage those moments when he might have a bit of a downturn. But in the end, he never gives up on the match. Sometimes, it only takes one or two points for him to get going again. He told me himself: at 36, he's not going to change! And that suits me perfectly."

Paquito Navarro's controversial behavior in the round of 16!

The craze of the  paddle  à  Miami 

 USA , a new market that it hopes to conquer  Premier Padel , could further accentuate the rise in popularity of  paddle  in the world. the  Premier Padel Miami P1  attracts from many stars in the stands, especially high-level athletes. The  Master 1000  Miami Tennis Championships, which is also currently taking place, allows professional tennis figures such as the French Caroline Garcia to come and take a look at  Miami Beach Convention Center , where the competition takes place, bringing together the stars of the circuit, including the new ambassador of  paddle  French  USA ,  Arturo Coello , that  Lucas Bergamini  will face in the quarter-finals later today. A large crowd came, which somewhat surprised the player.

"Yesterday, the central court was almost full, and today again, our match was played in front of a very good crowd. It really makes me happy to see so many people in a country where the  paddle  is still growing.  USA  represent a huge market for the development of  paddle , and seeing this enthusiasm here is very motivating!”

Preparing for a match

Players must adapt to the schedule and timetable imposed during tournaments. Even if the course of the competition was not disrupted by the weather factor as in  Riyadh , given that at  Miami , the tournament is held indoors, there is still the time factor and fatigue that can weigh. For some, like  Bergamini , recovery is essential.

“We adapt […] I had a good breakfast, went to see the physiotherapist around 10:30 a.m., then went home to rest. I ate, took a nap, and then came to the club to start my warm-up routine.”

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