Long a dominant figure in A1 PadelMaxi Arce has found himself propelled into a completely different universe in recent months.  The Argentinian, currently ranked around 45th in the world, had to bounce back after the sudden disappearance of the A1 circuit before securing a place on Premier PadelBetween new opportunities, a change of partner, and high ambitions, the left-hander moves forward with clear-headedness… and a clear dream: to one day share the track with Agustín Tapia. Interview conducted for the Spanish newspaper. Sport.

The shock of A1's disappearance Padel

Last summer marked a brutal turning point in Maxi Arce's career. He had just won a tournament in Lanzarote with Franco Dal Bianco and was at the top of the A1 rankings. Padel For several seasons, everything stopped abruptly.

"We had just won a title and gone through a very positive period. And suddenly, it all disappeared. It was very hard to take."

Beyond the circuit's disappearance, it was primarily the manner in which it was handled that struck the Argentinian player. Arce describes a situation that remains unexplained, even though several players had turned down opportunities elsewhere to support this project.

"What hurt me the most wasn't just the money owed. It was that no one really gave any explanations."

Despite the frustration and significant sums of money left unpaid, the Argentinian quickly sought to bounce back.

Arce and Dal Bianco on a mission: heading for Premier Padel after the end of the A1 circuit

Stupaczuk's unexpected call

The turning point came with an opportunity that few players would have imagined: a call from Franco Stupaczuk to play in a tournament Premier Padel.

"When Stupa called me, I thought it was a joke. For an Argentinian, receiving a call like that is huge."

This invitation opens the doors to the major circuit and allows Arce to discover a new environment, more exposed in terms of media and sporting events.

Accustomed to pressure as the former number one of A1 PadelHe approaches this first experience calmly.

"I didn't want to think about everything it represented. For me, it was simply another tournament to win."

A convincing start against the best

Once launched on Premier PadelArce quickly demonstrated that he could compete with the best. Alongside Pablo Lijó, he strung together several solid performances, notably against number ones Arturo Coello and Agustín Tapia.

The Argentinian player emphasizes the mindset instilled by his coach Gustavo Volpi.

"We train to beat the best, to beat Tapia and Coello. The exercises are designed for that level."

This mental approach allows him to enter the track without any hang-ups.

"If you play with fear or too much respect, you've already lost. You have to go in thinking you can win."

Madrid P1: Arce/Lijo close to the feat against Coello/Tapia

The difficult decision to leave Pablo Lijó

While the Arce/Lijó pairing was working well, a new call came to disrupt the player's trajectory: that of Juan Tello.

An attractive proposal, but difficult to accept on a human level.

"The conversation with Pablo was one of the most difficult moments of my career. I appreciate him immensely."

Lijó finally understands the decision, motivated in particular by more favorable sporting prospects and a higher seeded status.

"This was not a decision taken lightly. We analyzed everything before making our choice."

Objective: to break into the top 8 pairs

With Juan Tello, Arce is looking further ahead. Their first objective is clear: to establish themselves permanently among the best associations on the circuit.

"Our first objective is to fight for eighth place in the pairs. We're starting around 14th position, but I think we have the level to achieve it."

The idea is also to compete more regularly with the best teams on the circuit.

"We want to be competitive against the best, play close matches, push matches to a third set... or win them."

Maxi Arce turns the page on Pablo Lijó and towards Juan Tello

A dream named Tapia

A left-hander in a circuit where they are few and far between at the highest level, Maxi Arce knows that his profile can attract some prestigious sponsors. Among them, one name naturally comes up: Agustín Tapia.

“Playing with Tapia one day would be a dream. He makes padel easy. With him, you would almost just have to run and be strong.”

The Argentinian player particularly admires the Catamarca prodigy's ability to produce decisive shots in the most tense moments.

But he also emphasizes the importance of mental strength in Arturo Coello, his current partner.

"Tapia's ease and Coello's mentality make this pair extremely difficult to beat."

The models that shaped his game

To build his own style, Maxi Arce was long inspired by another left-hander: Pablo Lima.

"My game is very similar to his: solidity, movement, use of the lob and the par 3."

Today, he also closely observes Federico Chingotto, whose ability to compete with the most powerful players on the circuit he admires.

"His mentality and drive more than compensate for certain physical differences."

A philosophy that perfectly sums up Arce's current trajectory: hard work, resilience, and the conviction that with the right attitude, even the best can be challenged.

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!

On the same subject

Tags