Present in Alicante during the  Bomba Experience by Tecnifibre ,  Javier Martinez , Spanish player ranked around 50th in the world and partner of  Ramiro Valenzuela took the time to go into detail about his career, the evolution of  professional padel The economic realities of the circuit, but also issues related to playing surfaces, nationality, and changes of partners. A comprehensive interview with the 29-year-old player from Valladolid, leaving nothing out, to understand the inner workings of top-level tennis.

 “I started playing padel at 11 years old after a football injury.” 

 When did you start playing padel? 

I started playing  11 years Before that, I played football, but I had a  hip injury  which forced me to stop. That's when I started playing padel. I then started training towards  12 13-years And today I'm 29 years old, so that makes about  I've been playing for 15 or 16 years. .

At first, I just played with my dad or with friends. It was only later, when I started training, that I realized I had a good level and could start to  play seriously .

 Was padel already present in your family? 

We've always been caught between two sports:  football and padel My father played football, and so did my brother. Today, my father owns a padel club in Valladolid, the  Padel Arena So naturally, the whole family is involved in padel. My brothers play too.

 Why did you start relatively late? 

Because at the time, padel wasn't as developed. Today, there's a real  padel boom Many children start very early. But before, the majority of young people played football first. Padel wasn't as common.

Javier Martinez Bordeaux

 “Padel allowed me to continue despite my injury.” 

 Is your hip injury still bothering you? 

No, today I'm doing very well. I suffered  two operations But they went well. I can play padel without any problems. On the other hand, football remains complicated because of the contact, the impacts, the tackles… anything that can affect the hip.

 Playing surfaces: between performance and risk of injury 

 What do you think of new surfaces, like the ones used today? 

Today, playing fields have evolved. Carpets are often  harder  and with  less sand Personally, I like fields with less sand, because otherwise it's very slippery.

When there's less sand, the track has more grip, so your legs work harder and tire more quickly. There can also be a  different risk of injury because the foot grips the ground better.

Conversely, older surfaces with more sand could be safer for certain footing. So, in terms of injury prevention, it can be said that older surfaces had advantages.

But for the  modern padel and competition The current surfaces are probably the most suitable.

 Does this change your game? 

Not really. It might have a slight influence, but it's not something that will completely transform the playing style. It's not the most decisive factor.

Javi Martinez Franck Binisti tecnifibre gauchet
Javi Martinez Franck Binisti tecnifibre

 “Only the top 50-60 can truly make a living from padel.” 

 At what point did you realize you could become a professional? 

With the growth of padel, it has become more accessible. Before, it was very complicated. Today, the  top 50 or 60 world players  They can make a living from it, but beyond that, it's very difficult.

 Why is it so complicated? 

Because there are a huge number of  spending  : travel, training, staff… Tournament winnings are not enough.

When you win €2,000, it's not €2,000 net. You have to pay for plane tickets, the coach, expenses on site… and in the end, very little is left.

The real income comes from  contracts with brands Without a sponsor, it is virtually impossible to make a living from padel.

 Premier Padel vs World Padel Tour : a paradoxical evolution 

 Is there a difference between the Premier Padel and World Padel Tour ? 

Yes, there is a difference. On the  Premier Padel The prize money is a little higher, especially for the best players.

But first, on the World Padel TourThe tournaments were mainly in Spain or elsewhere in Europe. So the  costs were much lower .

Today with Premier PadelTournaments are held all over the world. Travel is much more expensive. So in the end, even if the winnings are higher, the  spending is exploding .

I would even say that today, in some cases, we can earn less than before, because of these costs.

Javier Martinez from behind
Javier Martinez reverse

 A more closed circuit and fewer opportunities 

 Has the circuit format changed? 

Yes. Before, there were the  pre-previas, the previas , with many matches to play. I was even one year the player who played the most matches, because I started in the pre-preliminaries and sometimes made it to the main draw.

Today, the draws are smaller. There are fewer places, fewer players in the qualifiers. Result: fewer matches and fewer opportunities.

Previously, some players could play  5 or 6 matches  in a tournament. Today, those who pass the qualifiers only play 2 or 3 matches.

 The role of FIP tournaments: an imperfect solution 

 Do FIP tournaments compensate for this lack? 

They allow you to earn points, but they also have their limitations. Today, many players of the  Premier Padel  participate in tournaments  FIP Silver or Gold which greatly increases the level.

As a result, players who would normally have access to these tournaments find themselves excluded.

The players come mainly for the  points Not for the money, because the gains remain small.

Javier Martinez stolen
Javier Martinez service

 Nationality and contracts: a real issue 

 Can changing nationality be an advantage? 

Yes, clearly. A player ranked 100th in a country like France can have better contracts than a Spanish player ranked 40th.

Why? Because there is less competition. In Spain, there are a huge number of players in the world's top ranks.

I am Spanish and attached to my country, but if I had an opportunity with another nationality and good conditions, I might consider it.

 “We change partners too often these days.” 

 Why so many changes in pairs? 

Because we often think the problem comes from the partner. Me first, it happens to all of us.

But changing partners is complicated. You have to adapt, rebuild your automatic responses. The combinations you've practiced have to be redone.

I think that these overly rapid changes are not beneficial, except in specific cases.

 Why does this happen so often? 

Because the  ranking is essential If after 4 or 5 tournaments the results are not good and the ranking drops, the players look for solutions.

Especially around the  top 30-40 , where the goal is to get into the main tables.

Javier Martinez smash
Javier Martinez tecnifibre

 New opportunities in a very homogeneous circuit 

 Is the level more consistent today? 

Yes, much more. The level between the players is very close, which opens up opportunities.

Previously, it was almost impossible to see a top 20 player play with a lower-ranked player. Now, it happens, as with  Juan Tello and Maxi Arce .

 Partner selection and projections 

 Who would you like to play with? 

I am very happy with  Ramiro Valenzuela Even though he's currently injured, we play well together.

But if I had to name one player, I would say  Jairus Baptist We've already played together and won a tournament in the Canary Islands, beating good players like Javi García and Pablo Lijo.

Javier Martinez Ramiro Valenzuela
Ramiro Valenzuela Javier Martinez

 Season goals 

 What are your goals ? 

Continue to be consistent in my game and integrate the  world top 40 .

I also hope my partner will return soon, perhaps for the Rome Major. I'd love to play with him again.

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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