Meet Padel Magazine with Mauri Andrini. This Argentinian has lived in Europe for several years and created the Hello Academy Padel. You must have crossed paths with him one day or another. He is one of the great figures of padel World.

Focus on the coach of the British men's team.

Padel Magazine : “Could you introduce yourself?”

Maurio Andrini: “My name is Mauricio Andrini, I am Argentinian and director of Hello Padel Academy. ”

PM: “Where do you come from and what is your trajectory padel, from your childhood until today? ”

MA: “I started on padel when I was 6 years old, in Pehuajo in Argentina, at the same time and in the same place as Bela (smile), except that he was more diligent and concentrated than me during the lessons. Until I was 12, I played for fun, then for fun at the national level and finally when I was 14 for fun at the world level. Alongside Francisco Severo, I was world champion and champion of international tournaments in 1998 and 2000. When I was 18 my father asked me if I wanted to go to Spain for the competitions of padel or stay in Argentina to study and do a university course. Maybe you won't believe it but I chose the studies. Five years and the diploma in public relations in my pocket, I had left the padel next to.

Years later, in Europe, with my wife we ​​moved to London. While walking in the street, and crossing an avenue, I see a man with a pala. I started to run behind him to ask him where there was padel in London ? Amazing, there was a 4 court club (Ex-Canary Wharf) just 5 minutes from where we were staying. This is how I took over the pala. I found myself number 1 in the United Kingdom for 4 years and then coach of the national team for 5 years now. We can say that it was London that made me take over the padel.

I resumed on the WPT and today here I am at the reins of an academy of padel established in the Netherlands, Belgium and Barcelona. I am also fortunate enough to be able to travel all over the world to teach padel to those who are interested, and those who are not, I make sure they are quickly (laughs). ”

PM: “How did you come to be the coach of the Great Britain team?”

MA: “With Tom Murray, former head of British Padel (today LTA Padel), we were number 4 in Great Britain for 1 consecutive years. We have always been on very good terms both on and off the pitch for work. He trusted me, and I on my side, since I like to do my job well, we quickly had good results. Mainly we had a lot of fun. This is one of the characteristics that I wouldn't change for the world. As I always say: “If you're having fun working, take your job seriously”. ”

PM: “What has the UK brought you?”

MA: “I have been living in Barcelona for 3 years. In order to play the WPT tournaments and focus on Hello Padel Academy, this city suits me wonderfully. The United Kingdom, as I said, was the reference country for my return to padel. It was a great lesson that taught me to adapt to nations around the world. The UK taught me how to work with foreign countries for me, foreign companies and of course foreign projects. As much to say to you that if you do not leave your country of origin, you will have difficulty to acquire a good confidence in yourself and an understanding of work towards countries like those of the North of Europe for example. It is not just a question of traveling, of giving padel and go home. 

Hello Padel Academy is an interesting concept that has been working across Europe since 2014. ”

PM: “How do you see it padel in the UK within 5 years? ”

MA: “The UK is starting to stick its head out of the hole, and will show itself in 2020 and 2021. The British Padel merges with the much more powerful LTA, which will be the new leader. 
Currently the country has about 60 tracks, and has been doing so for several years now, a slight development compared to what neighboring countries offer with already more than 150 tracks. It seems that in 2020 things are changing, the authorities have started to show it. And we all know that while the UK hits hard in the world of padel, we can be quiet, because the whole world will know the padel. "

PM: “How do you see the padel professional today? ”

MA: “It's not easy to explain how I see it. I see the concept of padel warped a bit. The Navarro / Lebron No.1s are intractable and we got to see it all through the 2019 season. But I stay with a bitter flavor. Before, spiking from the baseline won very few points, and today it wins you tournaments. The ball is very fast and the players make basic mistakes because they cannot play our “basic” stroke, the lob. Players like Lebron, Galan, Navarro, Tello, Tapia and so many others are able to complete the point in just 1 smash. Never in the history of padel we have seen such fast matches.

Sport is changing and I know it. The bandeja and the lob are no longer the major hits. You have to hit hard and be close to the net. The problem is how to explain this evolution to foreign players who do not play with the same balls, the same temperatures and another concept of the game? It would be like saying the opposite of what we (the instructors) explained 5 years ago. If you watch the 2017 WPT games versus the 2019 WPT games, it looks like 2 different sports. I understand that the public needs a show, and on that, WPT does a remarkable job. I think it's thanks to them that the padel is also known today. ”

PM: “How would you like the padel within 5 years? ”

MA: “I would like there to be 5 countries in the top 20. For example Argentina first (laughs), Spain, France, Sweden, Netherlands, Italy, Portugal. This is an example because many countries are playing at an impressive level. It should be understood that Spain is one step ahead because the padel in this country is already very professionalized. I believe we will get to 15 Spanish players in the top 20 by 2025, but the question was my vision right? (laughs). 
I would like the padel becomes a more professional sport, with federations, players, sponsors, field builders, and asking questions that we do not ask yet as a young sport. There is a lot to learn and that is what is beautiful about this sport. I am one of those people who will always be ready to help and learn to grow this sport. We have a unique opportunity and it won't be me who will let it go. We need to show the padel to the whole world, in a professional, humble, responsible, friendly and passionate manner. This philosophy has always helped me in my career and still serves me today to continue to grow professionally and on a personal level. ”

PM: “What do you think the padel ? "

MA: “What our sport lacks, padel he himself will ask. The new countries that will join in this contagious adventure will also ask. Surely the rules will change little by little, but I believe that we are not yet at the end of the road. Today the best padel is played in Spain and brings an advantage to the players. But the day when other countries show the tip of their noses, and the Spaniards will have to move to Sweden, Belgium or even the Netherlands, with different climates, humid, cold and why not on different surfaces, it will be very interesting to see the development of the sport and the players. In the meantime, let's continue to responsibly educate all those who need it by promoting sport among young people, as the padel is a perfect sport for that, for teamwork and respect for others. ”

PM: “What would be your message for young players who want to become professionals? To all recreational players, clubs, investors, federations and finally tournament organizers? ”

MA: “Work with awareness, everyone. I play padel since I was 6 because it's the most complete thing life has given me. We play with a partner, we have to be tolerant, respectful, work as a team, sometimes we are vulnerable but above all we have to be good people because it is very easy to detect annoying people in a club or in a tournament. Competition is healthy if you know how to compete. Winning doesn't mean you'll keep playing, but having fun does.
So if you are beginners, professional players, a business leader, a brand, an investor or others, think about becoming aware because many of us are working to make the sport grow in a coherent way and it is important to know that this sport does not belong to anyone, on the contrary, it belongs to everyone. Let's draw together the path that will tell why the padel should land in every country around the world and let's not just put the winners ahead, because, I repeat to myself, it's better to lose while having fun than to win without having fun. If you are one of those who win without having fun, you will be part of the list of people who left the padel and even the competition.

Let's fight for values, whatever we do. ”

PM: “Do you want to add something else?”

MA: “Thank all those who surround me and encourage me in my projects, and they are numerous. Without them, I will not be able to do half of what I do today. My wife is the pillar of my life. Hello Padel to all.

See you at the next game. ”

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovers the padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since padel is part of his life. You often see him touring France going to cover the major events of padel French.