In padel, as in many sports, players are not only known by their name. Over time, nicknames appear, often given by fans or commentators based on the style of play, origin or personality of the players. We find a bit of everything: references to animals, cities, professions or even superheroes.

Padel animals

It is impossible to talk about nicknames without starting with “El Lobo”, in other words Juan Lebrón. With his explosive temperament, he inherited this nickname which makes the stands scream with each big smash from him.

In another style, we find the mythical (and now dissociated) pair that composed “El Gato” (Juan Tello) and “Super rat” (Fede Chingotto), in reference to the cat for Tello's dangerous side and to the mouse for Chingotto's small size.

One of the most famous animal nicknames is probably “El Tiburón” for former world number 1 Maxi Sánchez. In the women's category, “The Pantera” (Virginia Bidahorria) is an exception in this club of padel felines.

Cities and regions in the spotlight

Some players proudly bear the name of their hometown. This is the case ofAgustín Tapiasurnamed “The Mozart of Catamarca”, because of his natural talent and creativity on the track. Same logic for Sanyo GutiérrezCalled “The Magician of San Luis”, or Pablo Limasurnamed “The Canon of Porto Alegre” for its striking power.

Superheroes and notable figures

Padel does not escape references to mythical and popular figures. Fernando Belasteguín, who dominated the sport for years, is called “The Boss”, a title that speaks volumes about his reign on the circuit. Alejandra Salazar, for its part, is nicknamed “The Lady of the Maze”, in homage to its famous bandeja nicknamed… the “bandejandra”.

Other nicknames directly evoke the talent and creativity of the players. Ari Sánchez is often called "Magic", While Arturo Coello is designated as “King Arturo”, in reference to his imposing stature on the field.

Historically, Matías Díaz was known as “El Warrior”, and no one has ever questioned this nickname, which he earned thanks to his fighting spirit on the field.

Iconic players with deep-rooted nicknames

Some veterans of the circuit have nicknames that have stood the test of time. Juan Martín Díaz will stay forever “The Lord of Reflexes”, While Miguel Lamperti is nicknamed “The Rifle” ou “The Canoso”, a nod to his iconic white hair.

In the women's circuit, Carolina Navarro is called “The Pearl”.

Original professions and references

The world of padel also has some nicknames that are out of the ordinary. Marta Ortega is often called “The Doctor”, since at the beginning of her career, she had a career in the medical field alongside padel. Álex Ruiz, for his part, is known by the nickname of “Captain America”.

Other players have more anecdotal nicknames, like “Peter Pan” Momo González, or “The Turquito” Martín Di Nenno.

Women's padel is not left out

In women, Paula Josemaría is widely known as “Dinamita”, a nickname that reflects his boundless energy on the field. Sanchez Alayeto sisters, they are nicknamed “The Atomic Gems”, a trademark that follows them everywhere, even on their social networks.

Bea González proudly wears his nickname of “The Pearl of the Palo”, a tribute to his home neighborhood in Malaga.

Nicknames that are part of the game

Over time, these nicknames have become an essential element of padel. They allow fans to more easily identify players and bring a touch of emotion and closeness to them.

Benjamin Dupouy

I discovered padel directly during a tournament, and frankly, I didn't really like it at first. But the second time, it was love at first sight, and since then, I haven't missed a single match. I'm even ready to stay up until 3am to watch a final of Premier Padel !

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