Meeting with a legendary player from the World Padel Tour. Maxi Grabiel, this experienced player, looks back on his black year: 2019. But also talks to us about his past more generally and his future on the circuit.

Interview with Maximiliano Sergio Grabiel, 43 years old and padel professional since 1993.

PM: You have a very rich career far from over. Are there any magic moments that you remember?

MG: Moments I have many, for so many years on the circuit, but if I had to keep 2, I would say first the world 2014 that we won with the team of Argentina. The second would be during the Valladolid tournament in 2008, during which I was playing with Agustín Silingo and where we won the final against Belasteguín and Juan Martín Diaz.

PM: On our side, we see you as a discreet player. How do you see yourself

MG: Yes indeed, I also define myself as a discreet player, who doesn’t have a game to “shine”, but I think that my way of playing has been sufficiently efficient and regular all these years. I believe that one of my strong points will have been to adapt quickly to the game of my partners and to manage to make the best of themselves.

PM: How do you feel with the pace of play imposed by the young promises?

MG: It is true that over the past two years we have felt the emergence of young players. They play at a different pace and above all they are able to play a 3 hour game and the next day to replay a game with always the same physical freshness. This is a change that the padel today, and he needed it.

PM: What padel you prefer ? The one today or the one from 5 years ago?

MG: Personally I preferred the padel from a few years ago, especially the 2015 carpets which were fast and suited my playing style perfectly.

PM: Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?

MG: In 5-10 years I see myself living entirely in Spain (as I do today), inevitably retired from padel as a player, but why not a coach. What I want is to always stay in touch with the padel professional, because it's a world that I love.

PM: How do you think the padel in 5-10 years?

MG: I think the padel will continue to evolve in every sense of the word. The palas will improve, the players will be even faster and will hit the ball harder, as is the case with Lebron… I believe that the future of padel will always play faster.

If we look at the future of padel in terms of its progression, I believe that we will see this beautiful sport in more countries and continents. Note the great work done by World Padel Tour on this topic.

PM: Your goals for 2020?

MG: My goals for 2020 are first of all to improve the results of my 2019 season, which was the worst of my career. I need to focus on these last games of my playing career, and enjoy every moment of the last few years that I have left. I think this is what I need to focus on so that beautiful and new things are born.

PM: What will be your pala for 2020?

MG: No news on this point. I stay at Vibora one more year, and I will continue to play with the Black Mamba model that I feel good with. I like this pala and I'm used to it now; why change?

PM: Do you have a message for the readers of Padel Magazine and for aficionados of padel ?

MG: My message is mainly directed to young people. If you have the chance, start playing padel. It is a very nice sport and above all it is a pair sport where we have a lot of fun and where we make real friendships.

Julien Bondia

Julien Bondia is a teacher of padel in Tenerife (Spain). Columnist and advisor, he helps you play better through his tutorials and tactical/technical articles padel.

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