“The learning curve in paddle tennis is like a plateauâ€‌

In Madrid He doesn’t go out so much in the afternoons anymore. Everyone is playing paddle tennis. And many do it with a shovel that is not even theirs. Ale Galأ،n nor that of Lebrأ³n: they play with the one recommended to them Manu Martأ­n (Madrid, 1983). Coach of professional players and the most recognized basketball influencer of the moment. It represents the transfer from tennis to paddle tennis; to be number two in Madrid behind Verdasco to be number one in your business. From playing paddle tennis at Ibai’s house to the pages of AS.

How was the transfer from tennis to paddle tennis? Why?

It was more than twenty years ago. And I did it because I saw a business opportunity in paddle tennis. I saw in it some ingredients that tennis didn’t have, and now they are starting to come true. Although it still has a long way to go to be a mainstream sport. I remember that I left tennis to switch to paddle tennis and also an engineering degree to study INEF. My parents didn’t understand it much, but I was very clear about it. I started playing without taking classes, I watched videos and that’s how I got started.

How far has he come in the world of tennis?

I became the runner-up in Madrid. At that time Verdasco was number one. But I never got to be among the eight best tennis players in Spain in tournaments.

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What do you think are the reasons for paddle tennis to surpass tennis?

Padel triumphs because it is more fun and because of its business vision. It is more fun because in an hour of play it adds up to more minutes of useful time than tennis, in which you waste a lot of time collecting balls. And because it is easier to start playing. In addition to being practiced with four people and being a social sport. As for the business, in the space you build a tennis court you can fit several paddle tennis courts. And that’s a lot of money. There are already more paddle tennis players than tennis players in Spain, although tennis still surpasses paddle tennis in tracking.

He said that paddle tennis still has a long time to go before it becomes a mainstream sport. Why?

First we have to see how many people remain on the planet after the pandemic boom. A while ago many people took up triathlon and suddenly they stagnated. Many people will stay on the tennis court, but also many others will return to soccer or tennis. Paddle tennis has a particularity and that is its learning curve. It’s like a plateau. The player starts, quickly reaches the plateau and then moving forward is very difficult. You also depend on your partner, and then you need many classes to grow in your game.

He is a professional paddle tennis coach but is almost more recognized for his role as influencer. Why did you start recording?

It is very difficult to make a living just by training professional paddle tennis players. If we said what was charged, people would go crazy. It gives us enough to cover the trips and little else. I saw an opportunity on social media and now I dedicate a lot of my time to it.

What figures do professional tennis players move into?

Luckily now in the top-10 money is already beginning to be handled. The top players, number one, can reach a million euros a year. But after the top-10 it is very cold. Couples who make second rounds in tournaments win €1,200, and there are usually about two tournaments a month. Add to that physios, movements, trainers…

What does this look like to be? influencer from within the professional’s position?

Once they told me from within the sector that I was competing with them by recording this type of videos. But it’s my way of making a living. It would be strange to see Guardiola recording his day to day life, because in the world of football they don’t need it. The difference between football and paddle tennis salaries is abysmal. If I were paid at their level I wouldn’t have the need to record my day to day.

آ؟Cuأ،l es kno way of working to record?

I organize my videos in two types of formats: video blogs and tutorials. In the video blogs I tell a little about my day to day and I integrate my relationship with the sponsorship brands there, in the most natural and organic way possible. In the tutorials I explain the knocks or doubts that may interest my followers the most. I try to record during the day, edit at night and the next day so that people can have breakfast with the video.

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How many people do you reach with your videos?

My videos usually range between 60 thousand and 100 thousand views. The road has been long and full of effort to get here. My brand on social networks began in 2013, when paddle tennis was barely being followed, and now it is already bearing fruit. In 2018 I had my first sponsor, and with the pandemic everything has changed. Then the verified one from Instagram arrived and things are going well.

Which platform do you feel most comfortable on?

Youtube. It gives you a lot of freedom and that is what fulfills me the most. Now I’m making a lot of content for Twitch, but I’m sticking with YouTube. On YouTube you create the community and on Twitch you consolidate it. Twitch has a very slave business model, and if you go on vacation for two weeks, you will resent it.

CUESTATIONARIO CROUST

Greatest athlete in the history of Spain.

Nadal.

What was your first salary for?

To buy me a motorcycle.

New York, Paris or Dubai.

New York.

What did you do during recess?

The monkey in the baskets. I climbed on them (laughs).

How did you experience the quarantine?

I had a pretty bad time. My productivity dropped a lot and I also caught the coronavirus. I even lost my hair, it hit me hard. I didn’t have a good time at all.

Meet for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

To eat.

What was your last idea?

Rent a caravan for the month of December.

How would you play the last point of a big tournament?

We are anchored.

From YouTube to heaven

Marc Seguأ­

Recycled J

Carolina Durante

Carlos Cuevas and David Solans from Merlأ