We regularly interview Pablo Lima and Fernando Belasteguin. On the other hand, we do not necessarily know the other side of the scene. It is their wives: Paula and Cristina who help us get to know them better.

Can you introduce yourself and how long have you known your husband?

I am Cristina (Editor's note: Spanish from Catalonia), wife of Fernando Belasteguin. I have known him since 2004 and married since 2008.

I am Paula Miranda (Editor's note: Brazilian) wife of Pablo Lima. I have known him since 2007 and married since 2009.

How do you describe your husband in life? Off the court and on the court?

Christina (C): He's very different off the court and on the court padel. They are 2 very different people. There are people who wonder how he is at home when they see him on the court screaming and spending all that energy. But in fact he is super quiet at home. He takes everything very calmly. He takes advantage of every moment, takes advantage of his children (Editor's note: 3 children). He lives very calmly and has nothing to do with how nervous he can be on the court. He goes crazy on the court, with that look he has every time on the court ...

Paula (P): For Pablo it's a bit the same as Bela. At home, he is a lot of fun, he likes to laugh… he likes being at home, playing with his dogs… He is very calm. When he's on the court, he has another face…. it is very different.

The qualities and a defect.

C: Bela is very happy, very attentive, he takes care of his family a lot. His flaw: he does not know how to say "no" to people.

P: Pablo is very loyal, very friend, he is very reserved and selective in his friendships and relationships, very generous too, these are values ​​that caught my attention. And the flaw: stubborn, but I am too, so that's not a problem.

What do you think is your husband's best move?

C: the lob.

P: We will believe that I will copy because I like his defense in general but the lob especially for Pablo.

Do you accompany your husbands in tournaments?

C: No With family life, it's complicated. This year I accompany him for the WPT Monaco and another tournament circuit and that's it. When we did not have children, I accompanied him a lot.

P: I accompanied him in tournament a little more. But we have just moved to Barcelona, ​​and this Monaco tournament is the first one where I am.

Are you playing padel ? And your level

P: I love to play padel. I am also part of a team called slam padel feminino. I participate in a lot of Catalan league tournaments where I take great pleasure in playing… My level? What a difficult question…. I defend myself (Editor's note: Very good level. Paula won the last female tournament of the Set Club of Aix en Provence by beating with her partner several players who are among the best French players).

C: I don't play much. I like to play but for reasons of time and logistics I don't have time to play a lot (Editor's note: Cristina is a dentist).

P: we play together at padel once a week or so.

They say that behind a man's success hides a woman. What do you think ?

C: I agree! (laughs) It's important that at home there is stability, tranquility, that he is happy and I think Bela has it…

P: the secret of this sentence is to be accompanied, right? Not to be behind but to the side is better. To be accompanied, that the person lives with your victories, that the person is present when things are not going well. Be like a team!

What do you think of this Bela-Pablo team?

C: It's a very good team. As players, as people, as friends. They are on the same wavelength at all levels.

Did Fernando ask your opinion about the choice of Pablo?

C: No Fernando didn't ask me anything. Since I'm a dentist, he often tells me, "I don't mind your dental business, so don't mind my dental business. padel (Laughs!). It is true that I do not know this sport very well and therefore I cannot judge well.

And Pablo?

P: Sometimes, Pablo asks me my opinion, but in this case, no, he just announced his decision.

How do you see your husband as a player in 5 years?

P: I see him quieter with even greater experience. Today he is young, he has only 28 years soon 29, he has already lived many things but he still has many things to live. He is very excited to be able to play with Bela. He has always admired him on the court and now they have the opportunity to know each other outside and he is very happy.

Bela is not as young as Pablo (Editor's note: Bela is 33 years old), how will he be in 5 years?

C: I see him always having a lot of fun. If his body holds, he will continue to play for a long time. There will come a time when he will play in a different way ...

 

Special question for Cristina: how does Bela manage to keep such motivation on court after so many years as number 1 and having won everything?

C: Because he doesn't like to lose, like his son. He's super competitive in everything he does! He can play any game, but lose, and he can't stand it… when there is competition he is always ready to fight!

Special question for Paula: How did it go for Pablo to have Bela as a partner when he was for years his main opponent? Complicated, right?

P: It crossed his mind when he made the decision to play with Bela. It is true that at the beginning they did not really know each other as a person. And it surprised me how quickly they connected / found. And I see them very happy to be together. In addition, I believe that they are identical with regard to the requirement, the self-requirement. I see that they encourage each other, that they motivate each other together, they say “vamos, vamos” and that is what he needed.

Interview carried out on September 13, 2015 in Monaco during the World Padel Tour by Kristina CLEMENT for  Padel Magazine.

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.

On the same subject