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