Qatar Major – Franco Stupaczuk: “With Martin, we can finish the year world number 1”

They are inseparable. For more than a year, Franco Stupaczuk et Martin Di Nenno shine on the padel global. Last year they finished just behind Coello and Tapia on the WPT, and despite the calls received, Martin and Franco decided to continue their association.

Their season began with a semi-final loss in three sets against Juan lebron et Ale Galan à Riyadh. From now on, Franco Stupaczuk and Martin Di Nenno, the title holders, are in the quarter-finals at the Qatar Major. The perfect time to chat a little with Stupa of his start to the season with Martin, of his opinion on the “single circuit” and its ambition to become world number 1.

A good start to the season

It's a good start to the season. Of course, finishing in the top 8, or even top 4 like in Riyadh, is always very good. I have to say that the demands of the team, and of the people who follow us, are very high.

Afterwards, going for a final would be even better. And what about getting the title at the end.

His association with Martin Di Nenno

It seems to me that in the men's table, the first three pairs in the ranking are those who finished the year together in 2023. I think that there is a difference which is necessarily made when you have to win the matches in the first tournaments.

The difference is also made in terms of sensations on the track. Afterwards, it is obvious that it's an advantage to stay together after spending a year on the same side of the track. I think the more you work, the more you know your teammate, the more productive it becomes for the pair.

Tournaments planned on the A1 or the UPT?

I don't know if you'll see me on other tours. I think not but you never know. We will see the conditions that the tournaments put in place, it depends on the calendar too…

Actually, I think not, but I'm not categorical on the issue.

For a single large circuit or several circuits?

Last year and the year before we played more than 24 tournaments. We had to play on two different circuits. I don't think that's a good thing for the players, but also for the spectators watching.

Between two tournaments, it's difficult to maintain your level. In addition, we are almost never at home. The last two years have been unreal. To tell you, we were going home to leave again. We didn't even have time to wash our things, we had to do it during the tournaments!

And then, I repeat, the players could not offer the same show every week. There was a lot of fatigue and a lot of injuries... So, I think 25 tournaments is enough in a calendar.

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Four tournaments in Spain, a historic first

It's unfortunate for the Spanish and it's unfortunate for us to only have 4 tournaments in Spain. Especially since we all live close to Madrid. In that regard, it saddens us a little.

But on the other hand, if we want the padel spreads and becomes an Olympic sport, it must be exported to all countries and be accessible to everyone.

A change of heart necessary

It's a choice on my part to change rackets (the new Stupa pala HERE). I wanted my racket to adapt a little more to my game and be a little more rigid, especially since it will be very hot and many tournaments will be played in outdoor.

We know that the sun greatly affects moss. We want to avoid losing too much yield and having too much wear when there is a lot of sun and it is very hot.. This is also why the paint will be black too!

Afterwards, the difference between the ST2 and the ST3 is really just a question of rubber in the end. There is also an aesthetic change, with a new color: we try to make a more elegant racket

What are the super kids to become number 1?

In the end we won lots of titles last season and we didn't finish number 1. There's always someone who wins a little bit more. In a season “normal" we could have finished number 1. But there was Agustin [Tapia] and Arturo [Coello], who won every tournament in the first half of the season.

Afterwards, we raced to Mexico at the end of the year. If we do the same season as last year, we can get the number 1 spot.

Readers, not very optimistic for Stupa / Di Nenno…

I think Lebron/Galan and Coello/Tapia have a more… explosive game. THE padel that they develop every day is very fast... But in the end, I don't care what people think.

We do our job, every day, to finish number 1... Maybe we'll get there, or maybe not, we'll see!

Gwenaelle Souyri

It was his brother who one day told him to accompany him on a track. padel, since then, Gwenaëlle has never left the court. Except when it comes to going to watch the broadcast of Padel Magazine, World Padel Tour… or Premier Padel…or the French Championships. In short, she is a fan of this sport.