Jon Sanz and Franco Stupaczuk have officially announced their new partnership.  Although their rapprochement was no longer really a surprise after the information released in recent days, the two players nevertheless managed to surprise with the way they presented their new project.

No traditional side-by-side photo accompanied by a "new adventure".  Sanz and Stupa chose the world of video games to showcase their association , with their respective characters and a presentation that almost resembles the selection of a new team.

An original communication that ultimately fits quite well with this transfer window: the cards are reshuffled and everyone chooses their new partner before restarting the game.

But behind the wink lies an interesting sporting feature for Stupaczuk:  The Argentinian is reunited with Jon Sanz, a left-handed player by his side. , a configuration that has already served him rather well in the past.

Álex Ruiz: two titles with Stupa in 2021

Indeed, one does not have to go back solely to Pablo Lima to find Stupaczuk associated with a left-handed player.

En  In 2021, Stupa shared the track with Álex Ruiz , another well-known left-hander on the professional circuit.

And the association is working.

The two men notably won the  Sardinia Open 2021  du World Padel TourIn Cagliari, Ruiz and Stupaczuk eliminated Pablo Lima / Agustín Tapia in the semi-final before dominating Paquito Navarro / Martín Di Nenno in the final.

A few months later, they did it again at  Mexico Open 2021 .

The journey is particularly significant: Ruiz and Stupa bring down  Juan Lebrón / Ale Galán in the quarter-finals , then they prevailed in the final against Paquito Navarro / Martín Di Nenno, 6/3 3/6 6/2. This was their  second title of the season .

Left-handed Álex Ruiz had therefore already enabled Stupa to build a pair capable of taking down the very best teams in the world.

Then Pablo Lima in 2022

The story with the left-handed players continued the following season.

En  In 2022, Franco Stupaczuk teamed up with Pablo Lima , one of the most iconic left-handers in the modern history of padel.

Here again, the results are coming in.

Stupa/Lima notably reached the final of the  Human English Padel Toulouse Open where they bowed out to the number 1 players of the time, Juan Lebrón and Alejandro Galán.

But it's especially on the new circuit Premier Padel that they will leave a lasting impression.

À  Mendoza Stupaczuk and Lima win the title after a huge final against Fernando Belasteguín / Arturo Coello:  6/2 4/6 7/6 , after nearly three hours of fighting.

A few months later, they did it again at  giza Premier Padel P1 .

And this time, the victory is even more symbolic: Stupa and Lima pull off a stunning upset in the final.  Lebron / Galan , then world number 1, after losing the first set:  2/6 7/6 7/6 .

Two different left-handers, then, but two partnerships that allowed Stupaczuk to lift major trophies.

Jon Sanz, a left-hander with a difference

With  Jon sanz Stupaczuk therefore finds itself in this configuration, but with a significantly different profile.

Sanz is probably more explosive and unpredictable. His game relies heavily on his ability to accelerate, take risks, and finish points with his left arm.

A player capable of experiencing some more inconsistent periods, but also of becoming almost unplayable when he gets into a good rhythm.

And especially,  Sanz already knows what it means to win with a pair that is not the favorite against the best in the world. 

Alongside  Coki Nieto He has built a true status for himself at the top of the world padel scene.

In 2024, the two Spaniards notably won the  Bordeaux Premier Padel P2 A few months later, they achieved one of the greatest feats of their career during the  Premier Padel Barcelona Finals .

In the final, Nieto and Sanz overturned  Arturo Coello and Agustín Tapia who then remained on  47 consecutive wins .

The number 1s even had two match points in the second set before Sanz and Nieto came back and finally claimed the title.

In other words, Stupa is not simply acquiring "a left-handed player".

He recovers  a player who has already demonstrated that he can beat the best pairs in the world in the biggest events. 

From Ruiz to Lima, then Sanz: Does Stupa like playing with a left-footed player?

It would obviously be too easy to make this an absolute rule.

Franco Stupaczuk's career isn't limited to his partnerships with left-handed players. The Argentinian enjoyed great periods playing with other types of players, notably with...  Martín Di Nenno with whom he formed the famous "Superpibes".

But the succession  Alex Ruiz – Pablo Lima – Jon Sanz  is interesting.

With Ruiz, Stupa had a powerful left-footer capable of taking up a lot of space in the aerial game.

With Lima, he benefited from the immense experience of a former world number 1, capable of locking down his diagonal and building up a lot of attacks.

With Sanz, the focus seems to be shifting more towards  explosiveness and aggressiveness .

Three left-handed players, three different profiles.

And two previous ones that have already led Stupa to titles.

A pairing that began after the Stupa/Yanguas breakup

This new association comes after the end of the project  Stupaczuk / Mike Yanguas .

Their separation accelerated in London after a difficult period in terms of results. The two players had started the season among the top pairs on the circuit, but had not managed to establish the expected consistency at the highest level.

Jon Sanz leaves Coki Nieto to join Franco Stupaczuk

For the restart in Madrid, the cards have therefore been reshuffled:  Yanguas reunites with Coki Nieto while Stupaczuk chooses Jon Sanz which brings to a close his second period with Nieto.

Sanz and Stupa are expected to start this new adventure as  fifth pair , just behind Yanguas / Nieto, with a gap small enough that this hierarchy could change quickly.

A successful announcement, now let the game begin!

Ultimately, their video game-style communication takes on an almost new dimension when we look at the story of the two players.

 Stupa selects a new left-footed player , after having already won with Álex Ruiz and Pablo Lima.

 Sanz changes partners , after having notably known Coki Nieto l'one of the greatest successes of his career at Premier Padel Finals in 2024. Version 2.0, on the other hand, will not have brought many positive things.

Two trajectories that converge and two profiles that will now have to learn to work together.

On paper, Stupaczuk could bring Sanz some of the stability and game reading he needs, while the Spanish left-hander can offer the Argentinian the ability to blow up a rally in a few shots.

The concept of their advertisement was therefore particularly well chosen.

The characters have been selected.

 The new Sanz / Stupa team is created. 

And after perfecting the presentation screen, all that remains is to discover their true statistics on the track.

 Game on. 

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.

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