1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:03,300 Hey, Cesc here, and we're interviewing the number one player in the U. 2 00:00:03,300 --> 00:00:04,350 S., Luis Estrada. 3 00:00:04,350 --> 00:00:06,399 And we are All Things Padel. 4 00:00:06,810 --> 00:00:10,129 Alright guys, I'm here with Luis Estrada, number one in the U. 5 00:00:10,129 --> 00:00:10,309 S. 6 00:00:10,309 --> 00:00:10,549 A. 7 00:00:10,639 --> 00:00:11,549 Welcome, Luis. 8 00:00:11,579 --> 00:00:12,700 Thank you for having me, Cesc. 9 00:00:13,200 --> 00:00:15,730 Alright, so where are you originally from, Luis? 10 00:00:15,750 --> 00:00:18,680 So, I'm originally from Valencia, Venezuela. 11 00:00:19,009 --> 00:00:19,469 Wow. 12 00:00:19,499 --> 00:00:20,419 Yeah, Venezuela. 13 00:00:20,419 --> 00:00:22,669 So, did you ever play any other racquet sports? 14 00:00:22,710 --> 00:00:23,890 Yeah, I grew up playing tennis. 15 00:00:23,890 --> 00:00:26,240 I've been playing tennis since I was three years old. 16 00:00:26,509 --> 00:00:28,949 I kind of stopped playing two years ago when I started playing Padel. 17 00:00:29,365 --> 00:00:31,735 I still teach, but I basically stopped. 18 00:00:31,915 --> 00:00:33,385 So that was in Venezuela, right? 19 00:00:33,445 --> 00:00:33,685 Yeah. 20 00:00:33,745 --> 00:00:35,364 So when did you come here to the us? 21 00:00:35,364 --> 00:00:39,085 So I started coming consistently when my dad moved here in 2008, 22 00:00:39,465 --> 00:00:41,415 but I moved completely 2016. 23 00:00:41,835 --> 00:00:42,105 Wow. 24 00:00:42,105 --> 00:00:44,535 And so did you start playing Padel in Venezuela or here? 25 00:00:44,565 --> 00:00:44,955 Here? 26 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:47,295 I fan about Padel and everything right here. 27 00:00:47,355 --> 00:00:49,335 So how, how are you introduced to Padel? 28 00:00:49,395 --> 00:00:52,695 Like what club or, or you know, what did you think after you saw that? 29 00:00:52,845 --> 00:00:56,235 So right here in Orlando, I'm based in Orlando since I moved here. 30 00:00:56,650 --> 00:00:59,960 And the one that got me into it was the one and only Marcos El Pilar. 31 00:01:00,699 --> 00:01:07,479 So let's say that on August 2021, around that, I played for the first time. 32 00:01:08,050 --> 00:01:10,720 And I think on a Monday, I played for the first time. 33 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:11,890 Marcos saw me playing. 34 00:01:11,899 --> 00:01:13,530 He saw that I was super excited or whatever. 35 00:01:13,530 --> 00:01:15,780 And then he said, like, why don't you get certified? 36 00:01:15,780 --> 00:01:17,030 I have a certification. 37 00:01:17,100 --> 00:01:17,960 Back then, it was the Diaz. 38 00:01:17,960 --> 00:01:19,250 Right now, we're at Palo NBA USA. 39 00:01:19,700 --> 00:01:21,110 Why don't you get certified this weekend? 40 00:01:21,950 --> 00:01:25,460 The next day I sign up and that's how everything started on the same 41 00:01:25,460 --> 00:01:28,270 week that I started playing I got certified So did you continue playing 42 00:01:28,270 --> 00:01:29,580 tennis or you said man Padel? 43 00:01:29,580 --> 00:01:33,270 This is it I was a hitting partner at the time and I said, this is it. 44 00:01:33,510 --> 00:01:34,030 I'm done. 45 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:35,010 I'm done with tennis. 46 00:01:35,010 --> 00:01:39,679 Uh, I Say, I mean, uh, maybe I kept hitting for a little bit But then as 47 00:01:39,679 --> 00:01:41,010 soon as I started traveling that was it. 48 00:01:41,340 --> 00:01:42,640 So did you start playing tournaments? 49 00:01:42,730 --> 00:01:44,320 What tournaments were there at that time? 50 00:01:44,649 --> 00:01:48,360 So still USPA I think the first tournament that I played was in 51 00:01:48,369 --> 00:01:53,855 here in Orlando actually It was in October 2021, no, November 2021. 52 00:01:54,404 --> 00:01:56,895 And my first one that I tried was to Houston, to the Woodlands. 53 00:01:57,035 --> 00:02:01,384 I played with a friend of mine since we were little, and he'd never played Padel. 54 00:02:01,695 --> 00:02:03,664 He played maybe a couple times and we got destroyed. 55 00:02:04,565 --> 00:02:05,594 But that's how it started. 56 00:02:05,684 --> 00:02:09,755 I can tell you that for the first year, I didn't win, maybe I won 57 00:02:09,775 --> 00:02:11,275 two matches in my first year. 58 00:02:11,765 --> 00:02:15,015 So what was the transition and the unique shots to Padel? 59 00:02:16,510 --> 00:02:19,330 The transition I think was key, uh, and that's having a 60 00:02:19,330 --> 00:02:20,480 good coach and a good mentor. 61 00:02:20,870 --> 00:02:24,460 Marco said, like, you have good hands, you have great bodies, but 62 00:02:24,670 --> 00:02:27,900 as long as you don't learn to play padel, you won't be successful. 63 00:02:28,329 --> 00:02:32,529 So, for the first year, year and a half, I was letting the ball go to the wall. 64 00:02:32,790 --> 00:02:34,230 Seeing the wall come back rolling. 65 00:02:34,230 --> 00:02:36,210 And I was like, okay, I'll get it one day. 66 00:02:36,210 --> 00:02:39,330 But I, I was missing and missing and missing until finally 67 00:02:39,330 --> 00:02:40,260 everything started clicking. 68 00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:42,090 And so when was that? 69 00:02:42,090 --> 00:02:44,160 I mean, there's, I call the stubbornness, like the one through 70 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:45,750 10, especially play tennis. 71 00:02:45,990 --> 00:02:49,050 You, you're jumping up the baseline and you don't want to hit the back wall. 72 00:02:49,420 --> 00:02:53,460 And you're smashing everything, and you don't want to learn the other shots. 73 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:56,850 At what point did you say, okay, I gotta learn the back walls, and I 74 00:02:56,850 --> 00:02:58,460 gotta learn the unique aerial shots? 75 00:02:58,530 --> 00:02:59,539 No, from the beginning. 76 00:02:59,539 --> 00:03:02,079 From the beginning, I'm really open. 77 00:03:02,079 --> 00:03:04,429 I know it's a new sport I needed to learn. 78 00:03:04,780 --> 00:03:07,890 And also, it's good for me that growing up, I had good coaches. 79 00:03:08,370 --> 00:03:10,970 I mean, I was respecting every single thing that they were 80 00:03:10,970 --> 00:03:11,760 saying, I was doing them. 81 00:03:12,010 --> 00:03:15,459 So, they tell me, okay, you gotta hit the ball with two hands on the floor, 82 00:03:15,459 --> 00:03:16,444 and then you hit it with your leg. 83 00:03:17,555 --> 00:03:19,295 As long as they were saying it, I would trust them and 84 00:03:19,295 --> 00:03:20,245 same thing happened to Marcos. 85 00:03:20,245 --> 00:03:24,665 I was fortunate enough that I had somebody that he was good and that I could trust. 86 00:03:25,144 --> 00:03:25,665 Right from the bat. 87 00:03:25,674 --> 00:03:27,805 So was he your, your, uh, your coach? 88 00:03:27,845 --> 00:03:28,085 Yeah. 89 00:03:28,435 --> 00:03:32,935 You can say, even though he, I mean, we, he's the one, he's the one that 90 00:03:32,965 --> 00:03:34,845 made me the player that I am today. 91 00:03:35,365 --> 00:03:38,695 So the reason that I'm where I'm at, where I'm at is because of 92 00:03:38,695 --> 00:03:40,095 Marcos de Pilar and he knows it. 93 00:03:42,424 --> 00:03:45,015 Now, uh, do you have another coach or is it just still him? 94 00:03:45,065 --> 00:03:45,765 Just Marcos. 95 00:03:46,015 --> 00:03:46,644 Wow. 96 00:03:46,894 --> 00:03:47,005 Wow. 97 00:03:47,045 --> 00:03:48,385 And your coach now as well, right? 98 00:03:48,394 --> 00:03:48,665 Yeah. 99 00:03:48,695 --> 00:03:50,275 I mean, I got certified right there. 100 00:03:50,285 --> 00:03:51,175 I was helping me. 101 00:03:51,175 --> 00:03:54,084 I helped him for around two months here in Orlando. 102 00:03:54,755 --> 00:03:58,135 Then I went back to tennis, uh, because, I mean, I have more 103 00:03:58,135 --> 00:03:59,454 freedom working with my dad. 104 00:03:59,785 --> 00:04:03,065 Uh, it was more successful with my, I mean, we have a 105 00:04:03,065 --> 00:04:04,424 tennis academy here in Orlando. 106 00:04:04,965 --> 00:04:07,474 Uh, so I went back to, to tennis to coach. 107 00:04:07,484 --> 00:04:09,704 So that, that will give me more time to travel and play 108 00:04:09,734 --> 00:04:10,704 because I have more freedom. 109 00:04:11,260 --> 00:04:12,269 So let's talk about that. 110 00:04:12,299 --> 00:04:15,649 Um, do they have a Padel courts there at your dad's? 111 00:04:15,749 --> 00:04:17,820 No, it's actually where right now the U. 112 00:04:17,820 --> 00:04:17,880 S. 113 00:04:17,880 --> 00:04:19,839 State National Campus is actually across the street, the 114 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:20,829 neighborhood in front of it. 115 00:04:21,019 --> 00:04:22,049 It's a private community. 116 00:04:22,049 --> 00:04:23,599 We have six tennis courts. 117 00:04:24,199 --> 00:04:27,129 They're thinking maybe, I don't think it's going to happen soon, but they 118 00:04:27,130 --> 00:04:28,669 have space to put some Padel courts. 119 00:04:28,669 --> 00:04:29,859 I'm sure you're probably pushing it. 120 00:04:29,909 --> 00:04:30,329 Come on. 121 00:04:30,749 --> 00:04:31,239 Come on. 122 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:31,499 It'll happen. 123 00:04:31,499 --> 00:04:31,959 It'll happen. 124 00:04:33,479 --> 00:04:34,329 I'm sure it will. 125 00:04:34,339 --> 00:04:34,849 I'm sure it will. 126 00:04:35,119 --> 00:04:35,319 Okay. 127 00:04:35,450 --> 00:04:38,869 So, I mean, you've climbed up the, you know, the, the, the 128 00:04:38,869 --> 00:04:40,340 ladder to become number one. 129 00:04:40,830 --> 00:04:42,140 How difficult was that? 130 00:04:43,049 --> 00:04:46,969 It wasn't from the beginning, but, uh, being honest, uh, seeing the 131 00:04:46,969 --> 00:04:50,109 guys that were at the top at the time when I started, I was like, 132 00:04:50,159 --> 00:04:52,099 okay, uh, I want to be there. 133 00:04:52,179 --> 00:04:55,280 Then the second, third tournament, I was like, okay, actually, I just need 134 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:56,770 to put the work and I can be there. 135 00:04:57,269 --> 00:05:01,449 Nobody was taking it completely seriously here in the US until people actually 136 00:05:01,449 --> 00:05:05,289 started training or whatever, but also I got fortunate enough that Marcos 137 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:07,130 also introduced me to Nico Gritelli. 138 00:05:08,844 --> 00:05:11,585 He made that connection that I think it was life changing for both. 139 00:05:12,270 --> 00:05:15,599 And I always tell him that if he didn't put us together, maybe we 140 00:05:15,599 --> 00:05:18,739 would be killing each other right now to compete against each other. 141 00:05:19,109 --> 00:05:19,349 Right. 142 00:05:19,499 --> 00:05:20,619 So he's your partner, correct? 143 00:05:20,619 --> 00:05:21,039 My partner. 144 00:05:21,039 --> 00:05:21,200 Yeah. 145 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:23,080 We've been playing together for almost two years. 146 00:05:23,450 --> 00:05:23,780 Wow. 147 00:05:23,789 --> 00:05:25,349 So does he play left or do you play left? 148 00:05:25,379 --> 00:05:26,070 I play left. 149 00:05:26,070 --> 00:05:26,820 Nico plays right. 150 00:05:27,030 --> 00:05:28,420 Uh, he can, he can play both. 151 00:05:28,420 --> 00:05:28,840 Actually. 152 00:05:28,909 --> 00:05:30,300 I just cannot play right. 153 00:05:30,330 --> 00:05:31,480 Hopefully one day I learn. 154 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:33,210 And if we need to switch, we'll switch. 155 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:36,769 But I don't know how to, I was just like you, the tennis players 156 00:05:36,769 --> 00:05:38,450 usually on the left side, for sure. 157 00:05:38,939 --> 00:05:41,699 You know, but once I get injured, I moved over to the right side 158 00:05:41,729 --> 00:05:43,579 and I appreciate the right side. 159 00:05:43,599 --> 00:05:45,810 And like, I don't know how to play it, but as soon as I got 160 00:05:45,810 --> 00:05:46,959 better, I'm back to the left. 161 00:05:47,729 --> 00:05:51,880 I mean, it's actually little by little, the right side 162 00:05:51,880 --> 00:05:53,380 player is getting more value. 163 00:05:53,860 --> 00:05:57,030 And appreciated by the people, also by the viewers, by everybody. 164 00:05:57,440 --> 00:05:59,060 And it's, it's key. 165 00:05:59,099 --> 00:06:05,570 I mean, and not so much by the playstyle that you're building the 166 00:06:05,570 --> 00:06:06,889 point for the left side player. 167 00:06:07,159 --> 00:06:09,349 That's not happening anymore even in World Bad Tour. 168 00:06:09,420 --> 00:06:11,330 Everybody's being aggressive, everybody can hit it. 169 00:06:11,670 --> 00:06:12,400 It's changing. 170 00:06:12,430 --> 00:06:13,510 It's changing, it's evolving. 171 00:06:13,530 --> 00:06:14,139 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 172 00:06:14,550 --> 00:06:19,020 Okay, so, uh, you're, you, last year you were, you played in the PPL Yep. 173 00:06:19,020 --> 00:06:19,230 Right? 174 00:06:19,290 --> 00:06:20,460 The LA Beats beat. 175 00:06:20,460 --> 00:06:20,700 Yep. 176 00:06:21,180 --> 00:06:23,940 So, 2024, you gonna be, uh, participating in the PPL? 177 00:06:24,090 --> 00:06:26,850 I still gonna be with the La Beat LA Beats. 178 00:06:26,850 --> 00:06:27,030 Wow. 179 00:06:27,035 --> 00:06:28,440 I'm still gonna be with the LA Beat. 180 00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:30,840 We have some big sign-ins that I cannot announce yet. 181 00:06:30,955 --> 00:06:32,645 Come on, give us a hint. 182 00:06:32,755 --> 00:06:33,925 They're, come on. 183 00:06:33,965 --> 00:06:35,550 They're, you can't tease us like that. 184 00:06:35,550 --> 00:06:36,390 They're huge. 185 00:06:36,390 --> 00:06:38,130 I mean, come on, listen, come on one. 186 00:06:38,130 --> 00:06:39,270 Everybody knows about him. 187 00:06:39,330 --> 00:06:40,410 Everybody knows who he is. 188 00:06:40,410 --> 00:06:40,590 Go for it. 189 00:06:40,590 --> 00:06:41,565 Not everybody knows who he is. 190 00:06:42,175 --> 00:06:46,215 Come on, a little hint, just, oh man, well anyways, when it happens you 191 00:06:46,215 --> 00:06:48,835 gotta send me a text, we gotta get your phone in, we gotta put it on. 192 00:06:48,855 --> 00:06:53,555 Yeah, we'll put it out, we'll put it out, but it's one crazy signing and the other 193 00:06:53,555 --> 00:06:55,495 one I think is gonna help the team a lot. 194 00:06:55,844 --> 00:07:00,025 And we have two girls that, one did an amazing season, uh, in World 195 00:07:00,205 --> 00:07:04,520 Padel Tour, and the other one Uh, just basically finish her career. 196 00:07:04,610 --> 00:07:06,530 I don't know if you can take the shots around there. 197 00:07:06,530 --> 00:07:07,870 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 198 00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:09,210 The hints there, yeah. 199 00:07:09,260 --> 00:07:11,079 Um, okay, so let's talk about that. 200 00:07:11,079 --> 00:07:14,589 I mean, where does that put the, the North American players? 201 00:07:14,590 --> 00:07:16,480 I mean, you were getting all these stars, right? 202 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:18,870 So last year we saw a lot of players, right? 203 00:07:18,900 --> 00:07:19,769 North American players. 204 00:07:19,769 --> 00:07:20,019 Yeah. 205 00:07:20,080 --> 00:07:21,889 You know, not too many national players. 206 00:07:22,519 --> 00:07:24,720 We're starting to see that change now, right? 207 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:24,870 Yeah. 208 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:26,554 We're seeing more national players, international players. 209 00:07:26,555 --> 00:07:27,540 And more international, yeah. 210 00:07:27,540 --> 00:07:28,240 Right, right. 211 00:07:28,870 --> 00:07:31,370 Uh, where does that leave that North American player? 212 00:07:31,735 --> 00:07:35,745 I mean, at the beginning, we knew it was going to happen, why we 213 00:07:35,745 --> 00:07:37,185 needed the level to be better. 214 00:07:37,335 --> 00:07:40,075 But it's also better for us, bringing that level here to the U. 215 00:07:40,075 --> 00:07:40,285 S. 216 00:07:40,285 --> 00:07:44,385 is actually going to push us first, uh, as Marcos was saying before, first we're 217 00:07:44,385 --> 00:07:47,074 going to be training with them, we're going to be experiencing the way that they 218 00:07:47,075 --> 00:07:48,935 play, the different pace that they play. 219 00:07:49,555 --> 00:07:51,705 Nico and I, we've been fortunate enough that we've been traveling, 220 00:07:51,705 --> 00:07:53,045 we played one in New York. 221 00:07:53,425 --> 00:07:55,725 Uh, we, we've seen that it's another level. 222 00:07:55,755 --> 00:07:58,485 It's not that we're too far away from it, but we are. 223 00:07:59,285 --> 00:08:03,515 Far ahead that in the day to day being at that level every single day. 224 00:08:03,995 --> 00:08:07,475 But if the North American player can't be on the team and play 225 00:08:07,835 --> 00:08:09,215 with 'em, then they can't compete. 226 00:08:09,455 --> 00:08:12,185 You know, if they're taking their spots, you know, and I understand, you 227 00:08:12,185 --> 00:08:14,915 know, the ones that are there, they have to push themselves, which will 228 00:08:14,945 --> 00:08:16,595 bring up that level without a doubt. 229 00:08:16,770 --> 00:08:17,795 That's, that's the goal. 230 00:08:17,795 --> 00:08:18,065 Goal. 231 00:08:18,065 --> 00:08:20,915 That's why I think this year maybe we gonna get a little bit 232 00:08:20,915 --> 00:08:24,725 less playing time, even though I think I'm gonna be playing a lot. 233 00:08:24,755 --> 00:08:27,365 Hopefully a lot, but I'm gonna be playing. 234 00:08:27,684 --> 00:08:30,585 I think Niko's also going to be playing a lot, the other ones I don't know, 235 00:08:30,944 --> 00:08:35,664 just those two that I'm really close to, uh, but not only that, I really 236 00:08:35,674 --> 00:08:39,895 think that, uh, the competitive is going to, it's going to allow the North 237 00:08:39,895 --> 00:08:42,764 American players to push themselves to see that if you don't train, you're 238 00:08:42,765 --> 00:08:43,834 not going to get the opportunity. 239 00:08:44,645 --> 00:08:48,275 And I would also add that, uh, I don't know if Marcos mentioned it, 240 00:08:48,275 --> 00:08:49,584 but the format is going to change. 241 00:08:49,584 --> 00:08:51,755 There's going to be changes in the middle of the matches. 242 00:08:51,820 --> 00:08:53,138 It's going to be substitutions. 243 00:08:53,138 --> 00:08:54,456 Can you talk about that? 244 00:08:54,456 --> 00:08:54,719 Substitutions. 245 00:08:54,719 --> 00:08:54,979 Yeah. 246 00:08:54,979 --> 00:08:55,339 I don't know. 247 00:08:55,510 --> 00:08:56,359 I just don't know that. 248 00:08:56,359 --> 00:08:59,640 I don't know how many or how it's going to work or when can you do them, but 249 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:05,020 I know that I think everybody should get a chance to play if the team allows 250 00:09:05,020 --> 00:09:06,609 it or they're going for the kill. 251 00:09:06,609 --> 00:09:07,369 They're going for the win. 252 00:09:07,430 --> 00:09:07,709 The win. 253 00:09:07,859 --> 00:09:08,179 Yeah. 254 00:09:08,189 --> 00:09:08,949 The best play. 255 00:09:08,989 --> 00:09:09,270 Yeah. 256 00:09:09,270 --> 00:09:10,910 That's usually the best play. 257 00:09:10,910 --> 00:09:11,589 So we'll see. 258 00:09:11,589 --> 00:09:12,660 We'll see what happens. 259 00:09:12,949 --> 00:09:13,290 Okay. 260 00:09:13,290 --> 00:09:17,119 So let's go back a little bit to North American leagues like the USPA. 261 00:09:18,410 --> 00:09:19,900 You're number one, right? 262 00:09:19,900 --> 00:09:19,939 Yeah. 263 00:09:20,259 --> 00:09:22,780 USTA, this U-S-P-A-U-S-P-A, that's it, right? 264 00:09:23,170 --> 00:09:24,009 Uh, you're number one. 265 00:09:24,339 --> 00:09:29,769 So you had, um, some really great players, you know, in, in, in there. 266 00:09:29,829 --> 00:09:35,739 And now how close are you guys to, we, we've been calling it a Glasgow, you and 267 00:09:35,739 --> 00:09:37,930 Nico versus, uh, Peter and Alba, right? 268 00:09:38,019 --> 00:09:40,749 I mean, that's kind of like, we like to see that, right? 269 00:09:40,749 --> 00:09:40,810 Yeah. 270 00:09:40,839 --> 00:09:41,560 It's a great match. 271 00:09:42,189 --> 00:09:46,285 How close are you closing that gap from, let's say a year or two years ago to now? 272 00:09:47,130 --> 00:09:50,370 I would say, uh, yeah, a year and a half ago, I think the first meeting that we had 273 00:09:50,370 --> 00:09:52,510 against them was in August in San Diego. 274 00:09:52,860 --> 00:09:54,350 We got destroyed. 275 00:09:54,350 --> 00:09:55,580 It was destruction. 276 00:09:55,580 --> 00:09:56,579 You can put a boom. 277 00:09:57,010 --> 00:10:01,219 It was, I think we got a bagel in about 15 minutes. 278 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:01,620 Wow. 279 00:10:01,700 --> 00:10:03,929 6 0 and then we lost, I think it was 6 4. 280 00:10:04,579 --> 00:10:05,930 And that was a year and a half ago. 281 00:10:05,930 --> 00:10:09,180 And now, the last three meetings, the last two meetings 282 00:10:09,180 --> 00:10:10,400 I think this year, two majors. 283 00:10:10,900 --> 00:10:12,030 Uh, no, three. 284 00:10:12,070 --> 00:10:14,000 San Diego, Texas, and San Diego again. 285 00:10:14,580 --> 00:10:16,890 Um, all three matches have been in three sets. 286 00:10:17,455 --> 00:10:22,935 In the first one, uh, we had it, we didn't know how to close it. 287 00:10:23,255 --> 00:10:26,965 The second one, we kind of choked, basically, I think it was more 288 00:10:26,965 --> 00:10:28,215 me, I missed a couple easy shots. 289 00:10:28,555 --> 00:10:29,565 And in this one, we had it. 290 00:10:29,574 --> 00:10:30,975 This one, I think, has been the closest one. 291 00:10:31,005 --> 00:10:31,875 I don't think we choked. 292 00:10:31,875 --> 00:10:35,294 I think, uh, Jacobo and Peter brought their A game at the end. 293 00:10:36,105 --> 00:10:38,275 So, we were up 3 0, two breaks. 294 00:10:38,890 --> 00:10:40,520 In the third up, we had it. 295 00:10:40,630 --> 00:10:42,200 I think this is the time that we had it. 296 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:43,410 We said like, okay, finally. 297 00:10:44,500 --> 00:10:45,860 You feel like you're closing that gap. 298 00:10:45,950 --> 00:10:46,880 No, we're closing that gap. 299 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:47,650 And they know it. 300 00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:48,980 We love competing against them. 301 00:10:48,980 --> 00:10:49,870 They're great friends. 302 00:10:50,309 --> 00:10:52,679 We compete inside the court, but outside the court we're great friends. 303 00:10:52,679 --> 00:10:54,640 And that's how we want to keep things here in the US. 304 00:10:54,709 --> 00:10:57,540 I think the audience loves to see that match. 305 00:10:57,550 --> 00:10:58,620 It's such a great match. 306 00:10:59,050 --> 00:10:59,569 We love it. 307 00:10:59,620 --> 00:11:00,050 We love it. 308 00:11:00,209 --> 00:11:01,280 The new generation here. 309 00:11:01,280 --> 00:11:04,284 Exactly. 310 00:11:04,745 --> 00:11:05,305 Oh my God. 311 00:11:05,305 --> 00:11:05,594 Okay. 312 00:11:05,594 --> 00:11:08,165 So we look forward to that in 2024. 313 00:11:08,225 --> 00:11:08,295 Yeah. 314 00:11:08,495 --> 00:11:09,515 Hopefully we get more of that. 315 00:11:10,405 --> 00:11:12,024 And I assume Niko's going to be a part of this. 316 00:11:12,025 --> 00:11:12,255 Yeah. 317 00:11:12,424 --> 00:11:13,434 We're going to keep playing together. 318 00:11:13,435 --> 00:11:13,635 Yeah. 319 00:11:14,145 --> 00:11:14,505 All right. 320 00:11:14,515 --> 00:11:16,175 So let's talk about your sponsorships. 321 00:11:16,194 --> 00:11:17,894 Uh, and you're an ambassador, right? 322 00:11:17,944 --> 00:11:18,214 Yeah. 323 00:11:18,275 --> 00:11:19,985 Uh, so what club are you ambassador to? 324 00:11:20,004 --> 00:11:22,584 I'm ambassador of Padel House in New York. 325 00:11:23,125 --> 00:11:25,785 They've been really supportive to Niko and me. 326 00:11:25,825 --> 00:11:30,595 They've been helping us, uh, travel, doing exhibitions at Padel House. 327 00:11:30,625 --> 00:11:31,295 We got the chance. 328 00:11:31,295 --> 00:11:33,625 I think, uh, I still think about it. 329 00:11:33,625 --> 00:11:38,189 And, uh, I I think about the fact that we play with two number 330 00:11:38,189 --> 00:11:40,949 ones, with Juan Martin Diaz and Seba Nerone in an exhibition. 331 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:46,480 It's, I mean, I go speechless every time I think about it. 332 00:11:46,540 --> 00:11:50,789 To play in New York, at Domino, with the skyline behind us, with 333 00:11:51,220 --> 00:11:52,860 the Williamsburg Bridge behind us. 334 00:11:52,869 --> 00:11:54,330 I mean, it was It's insane. 335 00:11:54,350 --> 00:11:57,670 And we couldn't be more thankful to Padel House and to Santi, to Jordi, 336 00:11:58,230 --> 00:12:00,280 to Pablo, to all the Padel House team. 337 00:12:00,710 --> 00:12:01,580 We're grateful for that. 338 00:12:01,620 --> 00:12:03,659 It's your hard work and timing. 339 00:12:03,740 --> 00:12:04,040 Yeah. 340 00:12:04,250 --> 00:12:04,930 And timing, yeah, yeah. 341 00:12:05,180 --> 00:12:05,520 That's what it is. 342 00:12:05,529 --> 00:12:07,019 No, and the great connections. 343 00:12:07,019 --> 00:12:10,720 I mean, we always got to stay humble, stay open to opportunities. 344 00:12:11,419 --> 00:12:12,449 We all got to work together. 345 00:12:12,460 --> 00:12:14,240 There's no taking away from anything. 346 00:12:14,250 --> 00:12:16,060 There's a lot for everybody. 347 00:12:16,250 --> 00:12:18,750 So what are your responsibilities as an ambassador? 348 00:12:19,165 --> 00:12:21,855 As an ambassador of FIRST, we gotta represent the brand. 349 00:12:21,905 --> 00:12:24,875 Uh, we gotta make sure that we are, uh, good athletes, that 350 00:12:24,975 --> 00:12:27,465 we are, uh, leading by example. 351 00:12:27,475 --> 00:12:31,484 We're not just, uh, making a show when we're playing, we're 352 00:12:31,484 --> 00:12:32,845 screaming, we're hitting the glass. 353 00:12:32,845 --> 00:12:35,444 We are, uh, I think that's, that's a FIRST. 354 00:12:35,444 --> 00:12:40,570 And then outside the court, uh, being respectful to everybody, uh, Uh, I think, 355 00:12:40,570 --> 00:12:44,960 I think when Nico and I, we cover those, those things completely, we, I don't 356 00:12:44,970 --> 00:12:46,520 think we're never going to offend anybody. 357 00:12:46,840 --> 00:12:49,480 And if we do, maybe we were joking and maybe you took it the wrong way, 358 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:52,569 but I don't think we're ever going to be disrespectful to anybody. 359 00:12:52,940 --> 00:12:53,230 All right. 360 00:12:53,259 --> 00:12:55,619 Are there other sponsors that you, you may have? 361 00:12:56,009 --> 00:13:00,210 We have Adidas, uh, uh, they've been also supporting us. 362 00:13:00,490 --> 00:13:01,400 We love Adidas. 363 00:13:01,470 --> 00:13:04,440 I think this year we're also going to, I think we're going to renew. 364 00:13:04,975 --> 00:13:07,645 If everything keeps going well, so we're going to keep going with Adidas. 365 00:13:08,415 --> 00:13:14,435 And we really believe in building relationships and going a long way. 366 00:13:15,205 --> 00:13:18,525 So, I think Adidas trusts, I mean, trusts me since the beginning. 367 00:13:18,544 --> 00:13:22,105 Nico's been, I brought him in last year, at the beginning of last year. 368 00:13:22,760 --> 00:13:28,070 And we just want to go, we want to keep building those long stable relationships. 369 00:13:28,220 --> 00:13:31,520 So what do they, um, what do they offer? 370 00:13:31,570 --> 00:13:34,300 Just equipment and supplies and maybe travel or? 371 00:13:34,820 --> 00:13:35,500 They're helping us. 372 00:13:35,509 --> 00:13:37,230 They're helping us and they believe in us. 373 00:13:37,270 --> 00:13:40,419 So they really want to push us to be the leaders here in the U. 374 00:13:40,419 --> 00:13:40,709 S. 375 00:13:40,739 --> 00:13:41,089 Awesome. 376 00:13:41,089 --> 00:13:41,860 Yeah, I see that. 377 00:13:41,870 --> 00:13:42,460 I see that. 378 00:13:42,750 --> 00:13:43,570 Um, okay. 379 00:13:43,840 --> 00:13:49,205 The question I ask a lot of people, um, players especially is, uh, Can 380 00:13:49,205 --> 00:13:53,115 you make a living out of playing Padel and what needs to happen and 381 00:13:53,165 --> 00:13:54,655 when do you think that will happen? 382 00:13:55,405 --> 00:14:01,635 Right now, Nico and I can tell you, for us it cannot happen right now. 383 00:14:01,675 --> 00:14:03,915 Just playing Padel full time, it cannot happen. 384 00:14:04,204 --> 00:14:06,305 We're still teaching, Nico's teaching Padel in Dallas, I'm 385 00:14:06,305 --> 00:14:08,175 teaching tennis here when I'm back. 386 00:14:08,695 --> 00:14:10,395 Uh, I think it's going to happen soon. 387 00:14:10,575 --> 00:14:12,325 I think it's going to happen really soon. 388 00:14:12,335 --> 00:14:15,925 We are training and positioning ourselves so that when that happens We 389 00:14:15,925 --> 00:14:19,525 can be, not the first one, but one of the first ones that can say, Okay, I 390 00:14:19,525 --> 00:14:24,415 can dedicate a hundred percent of my time to train, and travel, and playing, 391 00:14:24,425 --> 00:14:26,415 I mean, food and everything, so. 392 00:14:26,555 --> 00:14:27,964 What do you think needs to happen? 393 00:14:28,414 --> 00:14:32,044 Uh, we need more, more bands, more bands trusting the sport, getting to 394 00:14:32,044 --> 00:14:33,845 know the sport, getting more exposure. 395 00:14:34,045 --> 00:14:39,375 PPO is the first example, and the best thing could happen to the US. 396 00:14:40,125 --> 00:14:42,795 We need, we need, basically we need prize money tournaments, 397 00:14:42,795 --> 00:14:44,005 we need sponsors behind us. 398 00:14:44,635 --> 00:14:47,725 And it's not because we want cash just so we can put it in our pocket. 399 00:14:47,795 --> 00:14:50,834 No, we need cash so we can actually invest it in ourselves. 400 00:14:50,845 --> 00:14:54,774 So we can actually train, we can travel, we can So you can make it a job. 401 00:14:54,825 --> 00:14:55,205 Exactly. 402 00:14:55,395 --> 00:14:57,274 You know, because that's what you want to do for a living. 403 00:14:58,335 --> 00:14:59,925 Okay, I hope that happens soon. 404 00:14:59,965 --> 00:15:03,455 I mean, you know, I see a lot of potential in this sport. 405 00:15:03,495 --> 00:15:07,815 And I see great players and it's tough because they have to Coach or they have 406 00:15:07,815 --> 00:15:11,775 doing something else and they can't focus everything on Padel strengthening 407 00:15:11,775 --> 00:15:12,855 and everything that they have to do. 408 00:15:12,945 --> 00:15:13,095 Yeah. 409 00:15:13,125 --> 00:15:17,025 You know, and that that hinders them from, you know, getting better. 410 00:15:17,055 --> 00:15:17,535 Getting better. 411 00:15:17,565 --> 00:15:17,685 Yeah. 412 00:15:17,685 --> 00:15:18,675 No, it still happens to us. 413 00:15:18,675 --> 00:15:22,245 Even though Nico and I were Nico's training at 6:00 AM I dunno how 414 00:15:22,250 --> 00:15:24,885 he does it, but he does it at 6:00 AM three times per week. 415 00:15:25,005 --> 00:15:26,385 He's in the fitness room doing it. 416 00:15:26,625 --> 00:15:28,245 I cannot do it at 6:00 AM Nico. 417 00:15:28,365 --> 00:15:28,485 Right. 418 00:15:28,575 --> 00:15:29,505 But I'll do it later. 419 00:15:29,505 --> 00:15:29,595 Yeah. 420 00:15:29,835 --> 00:15:32,865 I go with Diego that, uh, I think you're gonna be, he's gonna be here later. 421 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:37,070 But we have to find a way to make it work. 422 00:15:37,160 --> 00:15:41,280 So if you don't find a way to make it work and push yourself, if you 423 00:15:41,280 --> 00:15:43,790 get in a comfortable situation where you're just relaxing, you say like, 424 00:15:43,799 --> 00:15:45,910 Well, I can just stay teaching. 425 00:15:45,910 --> 00:15:47,560 I play a couple of tournaments. 426 00:15:47,850 --> 00:15:50,930 And then when you try to go and compete, you're like, Ah, I could be at that 427 00:15:50,930 --> 00:15:52,560 level, but I just need to train. 428 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:55,430 And I can tell you, if you don't get out of that comfort zone, 429 00:15:55,530 --> 00:15:56,150 you're never going to train. 430 00:15:56,180 --> 00:15:57,370 Well, I think that's the problem. 431 00:15:57,370 --> 00:15:59,550 I mean, if you can't do it full time, you can't get there. 432 00:16:00,430 --> 00:16:02,270 It's kind of hard when you have to work all day and you come 433 00:16:02,540 --> 00:16:03,460 back and you're a little tired. 434 00:16:03,580 --> 00:16:04,319 You know what I'm saying? 435 00:16:04,319 --> 00:16:04,444 Exactly. 436 00:16:04,444 --> 00:16:06,289 That's when you got to go full time. 437 00:16:06,290 --> 00:16:09,910 But that's where, right now, I'm telling you, it's not going to happen yet. 438 00:16:10,090 --> 00:16:11,080 That's where you got to sacrifice. 439 00:16:11,080 --> 00:16:14,280 Maybe you stop teaching two or three hours, you're losing a little bit of 440 00:16:14,330 --> 00:16:18,470 money, but basically that time and money you're investing in yourself, in what? 441 00:16:18,470 --> 00:16:21,419 In training and getting in shape, getting ready for those tournaments so 442 00:16:21,419 --> 00:16:23,119 you actually succeed when that happens. 443 00:16:24,210 --> 00:16:25,300 So, okay. 444 00:16:25,340 --> 00:16:27,770 Um, what are your goals in 2024? 445 00:16:27,770 --> 00:16:30,750 Uh, I assume you want to keep the number one spot, right? 446 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:35,159 Well, I think that's our first goal here, but, uh, for myself and for Nico, 447 00:16:35,159 --> 00:16:38,369 I think for sure that thing is keeping the number one, but also we want to 448 00:16:38,369 --> 00:16:40,140 travel more internationally this year. 449 00:16:40,780 --> 00:16:45,010 We know that, uh, our biggest rivals here in the U S is Peter and Jacobo for sure, 450 00:16:45,010 --> 00:16:49,870 a classical, uh, but we know that we got to go outside and we got to go outside. 451 00:16:49,930 --> 00:16:52,130 Uh, we got to play a higher level. 452 00:16:52,645 --> 00:16:54,635 And so you're talking about Spain. 453 00:16:54,665 --> 00:16:57,225 It's yeah, Europe, Mexico, South America. 454 00:16:57,225 --> 00:16:57,835 Yeah, for sure. 455 00:16:58,045 --> 00:17:00,105 So let's talk a little bit about a one. 456 00:17:00,115 --> 00:17:03,464 We talked about it before, but let's get more into detail, you know, the 457 00:17:03,464 --> 00:17:10,484 experience and the level and you know, all of that now, I mean, it was insane. 458 00:17:10,484 --> 00:17:14,994 It was, I think one of the best experiences again in New York, the fact 459 00:17:14,994 --> 00:17:19,645 that we were playing in Central Park, a Walmart ring, not even in tennis. 460 00:17:19,645 --> 00:17:21,524 I would have ever thought that I would play there. 461 00:17:21,909 --> 00:17:24,210 And just playing there with the skyline behind us. 462 00:17:25,379 --> 00:17:27,179 I would tell you it's a dream come true. 463 00:17:27,189 --> 00:17:29,469 When we were telling everybody, they were like, What? 464 00:17:29,639 --> 00:17:30,129 In Central Park? 465 00:17:30,199 --> 00:17:30,870 But where are you going to play? 466 00:17:30,889 --> 00:17:31,689 Yeah, the World Marine League. 467 00:17:31,699 --> 00:17:32,540 And we're like, What? 468 00:17:32,560 --> 00:17:32,860 What? 469 00:17:32,979 --> 00:17:33,879 I mean, that's insane. 470 00:17:33,879 --> 00:17:35,189 One of a lifetime opportunity. 471 00:17:35,189 --> 00:17:40,020 We're grateful that they, Padre House, basically gave us the wild 472 00:17:40,020 --> 00:17:43,820 card to it because they were the, The hosting facility for the players, 473 00:17:44,479 --> 00:17:47,820 uh, they made the deal and Palo House also giving us that opportunity, 474 00:17:47,820 --> 00:17:49,610 which we took advantage of it. 475 00:17:49,689 --> 00:17:50,229 Oh, yeah, yeah. 476 00:17:50,230 --> 00:17:52,809 I mean, that's, I mean, that's, that's, that's amazing. 477 00:17:53,329 --> 00:17:57,600 Yeah, I mean, I'm telling you, I cannot even put into words winning a round 478 00:17:57,600 --> 00:18:01,959 in a Grandmaster of A1, even though we know it's not Premier Palo, but 479 00:18:01,959 --> 00:18:03,610 the tour is still kind of a big thing. 480 00:18:04,309 --> 00:18:07,699 I can tell you the players there, they were like, oh no, they're going to lose. 481 00:18:07,870 --> 00:18:09,399 Well, you made it through the first round, right? 482 00:18:09,399 --> 00:18:10,340 And we won the first round. 483 00:18:10,360 --> 00:18:14,019 Everybody thought, I mean, everybody there in the tournament was talking. 484 00:18:14,189 --> 00:18:15,389 They thought we didn't speak Spanish. 485 00:18:15,389 --> 00:18:15,799 I did. 486 00:18:16,369 --> 00:18:18,089 They were saying, oh no, they're going to lose quick. 487 00:18:18,249 --> 00:18:18,829 Right now, boom. 488 00:18:18,829 --> 00:18:20,509 And then after we win, everybody was in shock. 489 00:18:20,824 --> 00:18:23,925 I was hoping, hoping you make the finals against Toledo. 490 00:18:23,925 --> 00:18:24,735 Oh, man. 491 00:18:24,735 --> 00:18:26,274 That would have been amazing. 492 00:18:26,275 --> 00:18:28,234 That would have been amazing. 493 00:18:28,235 --> 00:18:28,884 You like Toledo? 494 00:18:29,304 --> 00:18:30,764 Oh, who doesn't like Toledo, man? 495 00:18:30,764 --> 00:18:31,104 Come on. 496 00:18:31,844 --> 00:18:33,048 The guy's entertaining, you know what I'm saying? 497 00:18:33,048 --> 00:18:33,254 Yeah, yeah. 498 00:18:33,254 --> 00:18:34,235 And he's an awesome player. 499 00:18:34,384 --> 00:18:35,205 He's an awesome player. 500 00:18:35,504 --> 00:18:36,165 He's a showman. 501 00:18:36,374 --> 00:18:37,254 He is a showman. 502 00:18:37,584 --> 00:18:37,924 Yeah, yeah. 503 00:18:37,925 --> 00:18:39,284 So, what do you think about A1? 504 00:18:39,294 --> 00:18:42,215 Do you think there'll be other opportunities like that, uh, with 505 00:18:42,215 --> 00:18:46,175 you and Nico, and other, you know, um, tournaments, even if you have 506 00:18:46,175 --> 00:18:47,864 to go out of, out of this country? 507 00:18:50,879 --> 00:18:51,989 Yeah, I mean, we need to. 508 00:18:51,989 --> 00:18:52,809 We have to go. 509 00:18:55,490 --> 00:18:59,580 Like you talked about going to Europe or Mexico, what are you thinking? 510 00:18:59,639 --> 00:19:02,060 We're open to everything, basically, whatever we can get in. 511 00:19:02,119 --> 00:19:05,790 We get the opportunity that the scale works with the USPA or the PPL. 512 00:19:06,190 --> 00:19:08,569 We're just open to going anywhere. 513 00:19:08,619 --> 00:19:11,700 Also, we're looking, of course, to get more sponsors to travel. 514 00:19:12,570 --> 00:19:15,629 Because last year, even though we were getting a little bit of help, 515 00:19:16,399 --> 00:19:17,770 we were putting money out of pocket. 516 00:19:17,780 --> 00:19:19,659 We were investing in ourselves and going. 517 00:19:19,965 --> 00:19:21,294 Getting the exposure, getting the level. 518 00:19:21,745 --> 00:19:24,155 Uh, I think we just want to play FIP. 519 00:19:24,185 --> 00:19:26,324 I think that was, that would be the fair FIP. 520 00:19:26,375 --> 00:19:29,175 Uh, a one, if he happens here close in Mexico, maybe we go 521 00:19:29,175 --> 00:19:30,064 because we have the points. 522 00:19:30,600 --> 00:19:34,810 Maybe we can play a quality and try to qualify But I think our main goal will be 523 00:19:34,810 --> 00:19:38,610 Fib or a1 actually we're open to anything or premiere who knows if we get a walker 524 00:19:38,610 --> 00:19:40,769 to a quali or yeah That'll be great. 525 00:19:40,790 --> 00:19:41,290 Who knows? 526 00:19:41,830 --> 00:19:45,029 Thank you lucito for coming to Padel smash academy and I wish you all the 527 00:19:45,029 --> 00:19:49,759 luck in 2024 And I want to say bye to all the Padel smash academy family I 528 00:19:49,769 --> 00:19:53,949 hope you have a great year and that you keep watching the content from sesc and 529 00:19:54,209 --> 00:19:59,709 everybody Guys, if you haven't already, make sure that you hit that subscribe 530 00:19:59,709 --> 00:20:01,729 button and turn on your notifications. 531 00:20:01,809 --> 00:20:03,749 And remember, it's free 99. 532 00:20:03,759 --> 00:20:06,080 It doesn't cost you anything to hit that subscribe button. 533 00:20:06,339 --> 00:20:08,109 Thanks for tuning in to Padel Smash Academy. 534 00:20:08,110 --> 00:20:11,899 We hope you'll find our videos informative, helpful in improving your 535 00:20:11,909 --> 00:20:13,769 game and learning all things Padel. 536 00:20:13,939 --> 00:20:18,169 So until next time, keep improving your game and remember, learn, play and share.