During the last confrontation between Lucas Bergamini and the young guard embodied by Tino Libaak in the semi-final of the FIP Platinum Marseille, as well as Fran Guerrero in the final, an interesting symbol emerged: that of a clash between two generational approaches to the position of right-hand player.

The gap remains small — only eight years separate Bergamini (28 years old) from Libaak (20 years old) — and 7 from Fran Guerrero but it already translates into marked differences in the expression of the game.

 The classic foundation: patience and construction 

On Bergamini's side, we find the historical fundamentals of the right-sided player: constant groundwork, significant defensive density and a desire to build the exchange before accelerating it.

The Brazilian relies particularly on long, low, and highly deliberate viboras, aiming more for gradual disruption than direct points. This polished style of padel, characterized by variations and tempo control, allowed him to gain the upper hand in the first set against Guerrero, imposing his rhythm and limiting his opponent's explosive sequences.

 The new wave: projection and percussion 

On the other side, Libaak — like Guerrero — illustrates the recent evolution of the position. Right-sided players from the new generation no longer hesitate to push forward and assume greater offensive responsibility.

Back-and-forth smashes, shots launched from the line, even attempts at par 3s: their arsenal is expanding and reflects a desire to shorten rallies. This ability to create points quickly gave them several strong moments during the match, especially when the pace of the game picked up.

 A changing position 

This clash of styles confirms a fundamental trend: the modern right-hand player is gradually moving towards a more offensive style, moving closer in sequence to the role historically assigned to the left-hand player.

It remains to be seen, during the next confrontations between these profiles, whether this evolution stabilizes — or whether the balance between defensive construction and offensive projection will continue to shift.

One thing is certain, however: the right-wing position has never been so hybrid in its missions and requirements.

Antoine Tricolet

I discovered the Padel I stumbled into Spain at a campsite. I was instantly hooked; passionate about padel for the past three years, I follow international and regional news with the same excitement as the sport itself.

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