Álex Ruiz, diabetic and still fighting: his vision of padel and the season

After the first tournaments of the season Premier Padel , Álex Ruiz he confided in an interview given to the media Men’s Health The Spanish left-footer discusses his start of season his work physical , diet related to his diabetes , but also his vision of the evolution of the professional padel This is also an opportunity to revisit his playing style and the equipment he prefers on the circuit.

A start to the season marked by stability

Last season was marked by several changes of partners This made it difficult to build automatic responses on the track. Álex Ruiz explains that he sometimes lacked the time to establish a real working dynamic.

"Last season was strange. Juanlu and I hardly had any time to train together and establish routines on the track."

For this new year, the goal is to regain some continuity and to gradually build a solid partnership.

"We want to be very competitive and cause problems for other teams, but we're taking it one match at a time and one tournament at a time."

An attacking style and constant work on mistakes

Over the seasons, Álex Ruiz sought to refine his game. His main focus remains the management of unprovoked errors , a sensitive point for an attacking player.

"My weakness has often been minimizing unintentional errors."

The left-hander acknowledges that his style naturally aggressive sometimes involves taking more risks.

"My style of play is very offensive and sometimes that doesn't allow me to limit mistakes as much as I'd like, but it's something I'm continuing to work on."
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Diabetic, but with a diet similar to other athletes

The Spanish player also spoke about a more personal aspect of his sporting life: he is diabetic which forces him to pay particular attention to his diet.

"I am diabetic and I try to eat a balanced diet."

In practice, his diet remains quite simple and comparable to that of other athletes.

"Generally, I eat pasta, rice, chicken... nothing very different from other athletes."
But always a sugary drink at the foot of his chair.

Physical preparation focused on prevention

To cope with a very demanding season, Ruiz places great importance on the a physical training particularly to prevent injuries.

"At the gym, I do a lot of injury prevention and mobility exercises."

This foundation is supplemented by work on explosive force indispensable in modern padel.

"Then I focus a lot on explosive strength, with short, intense repetitions, like squats or bench presses."

For a circuit with tracks of varying characteristics

Álex Ruiz also shared his vision of the evolution of professional padel , particularly regarding the conditions of play.

"I would like there to be a mix of fast, medium, and slow tracks."

According to him, this would allow players to anticipate more and prepare for each tournament more precisely.

"Today, we sometimes arrive at a tournament without knowing if the track will be fast or slow. With a mix of surfaces, we could prepare each competition properly."

Between a physical training , diabetes management and reflection on the evolution of professional padel , Álex Ruiz continues to refine its approach to remain competitive at the highest level of the circuit.

Maceo ZERHAT

Maceo Zerhat discovered padel in 2020 in Savigny-sur-Clairis, Burgundy. He contributed to the club's expansion by bringing his energy and curiosity. Padel Magazinehe transmits his Padel"mania" by skillfully bouncing on all the latest news about your favorite sport!