On February 11, 2024, Fernando Belasteguín (45) announced that this would be his last season in professional padel. After more than three decades with an unmatched career – he was the youngest player to become number one in the world and held this throne for 15 years, from 2002 to 2017 –, the Argentine confirmed the closing of an era.
Over the last few months, fans of this sport have kept their eye on the ranking to see if ‘Bela’ could say goodbye at the Qatar Airways Premier Padel Finals in Barcelona, a competition that marks the end of the course and in which The best 16 men’s and women’s singles of the year will face each other. The setting will be the Palau Sant Jordi, which will host these meetings from December 19 to 22.
When there are two tournaments left to resolve the crossroads −Mexico City and Milan will determine who are the 16 who will face each other in Barcelona−, Belasteguín occupies 19th position in the classification. During the presentation of the Premier Finals on Barcelona soil, the Argentine star stated that he finds it “very difficult” to qualify for the tournament and that is why he announced that the organization has prepared a “brilliant” ‘show-tribute’ for him on Saturday the 21st in the Sant Jordi venue so that he can say goodbye to padel and the public.
As Joan Antoni Samaranch explained, visibly excited, at the event held at the Olympic and Sports Museum, it will be that day in the afternoon when he will be able to have just over half an hour to play on the court together with his friend and compatriot Juan Martín. Díaz and with Pablo Lima. It will be measured at ‘tie-breaks‘ to some of his greatest rivals throughout his career, such as Seba Nerone, Gaby Reca or Juani Mieres. They will be joined by two special guests and friends of ‘Bela’, Gianluca Vacchi and Carles Puyol, whom the Argentine thanks for the “key” role they have had in the dissemination of padel.
Two surprising guests
In addition to playing against other legends, there will also be Gianluca Vacchi and Carles Puyol, friends who ‘Bela’ thanks for their “gestures” to “spread” padel
In statements to The VanguardFernando Belasteguín has described the fact of being able to say goodbye to his sport in Barcelona as “incredible”: “When I saw the 2024 calendar, I marked three tournaments: the one in Mar de Plata, the World Cup in Doha and the finals in Barcelona. Even though I am far from being able to qualify, having the opportunity to close 30 years as a professional player in the city where I have lived for 17, where my children were born and raised and where I will stay forever is an great luck. It is something indescribable.”
Fernando Belasteguín, during the presentation of the Barcelona Premier Finals.
Despite pointing out during the event that to qualify he would have to win in Mexico or Milan and that “it seems unlikely because the last one I won was two years ago in Monterrey”, in the case of being among the 16 best, the tribute would continue towards ahead: “If I qualify, it will be very difficult for me to reach the semifinals on Saturday. What happened on the 21st is more than confirmed,” ‘Bela’ told this newspaper.
“Having the opportunity to close my career in the city where I have lived for 17 years, where my children were born and raised and where I will stay is indescribable.”
As of December 22, the Argentine’s agenda will remain full and his link with padel will persist: “I will continue working with Wilson (the brand that sponsors him) in the expansion of the sport in the world and also to have a Bela Padel Center in Barcelona to export the city’s padel to the entire world through the clubs and turn Barcelona into a world reference for the sport.”
Regarding the Qatar Airways Premier Padel Finals in Barcelona, the organization has explained that they expect a ‘sold out‘ for the four dates and, thus, fill the 17,000 seats that will be available at the Palau Sant Jordi. Joan Cuscó, president of Octagon, has detailed that there are only a few tickets left for Saturday in the third ring and as many in the second for Sunday.
Close up of hanging sold out sign
The organization points out that, with one month left for the tournament, it is expected to sell 17,000 seats for each of the four days of the competition.
For the Sports Councilor of Barcelona City Council, David Escudé, this fact is a confirmation that the city’s “bet” on paddle tennis is correct: “Barcelona has long ago opted for a sport that at that time was new. We are close to the ‘sold out‘ when there is one month left for the event. The tournament makes Barcelona continue to be one of the international capitals of the world of sport.”
The Minister of Sports of the Generalitat, Berni Álvarez, has shared Escudé’s words and has defended hosting these events: “It is important that they have an economic return, but also a social one. And the latter has already been standard in paddle tennis for many years.”
For his part, the president of the International Paddle Federation, Luigi Carraro, has highlighted the “excitement” of being able to hold the “most important competition on the calendar” in Barcelona: “It is the city that deserves it.” His counterpart from the Spanish Paddle Federation, Ramón Morcillo, was also happy about this election and expressed his desire for paddle tennis to soon be an Olympic sport, taking advantage of the fact that he was at the Olympic and Sports Museum.
The president of the Catalan Padel Federation, Felip Ródenas, thanked Barcelona for their commitment and claimed that “the health of Catalan padel is very good” because it is the largest federation in Spain. David Serrahima, general director of Premier Padel, has pointed out that 2024 has been a “year of transformation, learning and a lot of success” for the circuit.
#Fernando #Belasteguín #put #finishing #touch #career #Barcelona #Premier #Finals
