Waiting for timeless legend Belasteguin

Not only is he former world no. 1 and a legend of his sport, he’s also still one of the best Padel players on the planet today. Fernando Belasteguin is a true symbol of the sport of Padel, an ambassador turned athlete-entrepreneur from having previously been solely an athlete: thanks to his Padel centres around the world (17 to date) he has spread the love for Padel even in places where its popularity had yet to grow.

Belasteguin was born on the outskirts of Buenos Aires 43 years ago and he continues to be part of the international Padel circuit, with his game made up of (great) talent, which still makes him competitive compared to the new generation of Padel players. Today he pairs up with Arturo Coello, a 20 year old Spaniard from Valladolid. The pair could be father and son - in fact, Coello was born when Belasteguin was reaching the top of the world rankings.

The Bela/Coello duo was formed in 2021, after Fernando's brief interlude with Sanyo Gutierrez. "For me - said the Argentine champion - having him by my side has a double meaning: I want to launch him on Tour because he is a big talent and has major goals, and at the same time I also feel younger, and can enjoy the stimuli I had when I was his age. The moment I see that I am no longer the right partner for him, I will step aside”.

Humble, hard-working and classy: this is what makes the Bela phenomenon, a Padel circuit’s Roger Federer of sorts. He lives and works with Padel, but above all he is a fan of the sport. Alongside Spaniard Juan Martin Diaz he won everything he could. He has won 160 (!) International titles and the figure will no doubt increase.

Great things are expected of him in Rome for the first edition of the Italy Major Premier Padel tournament. Money on a ticket to see Bela is never wasted. You can learn from him, because every Bela match is a lesson in tactics and balance. He is able to showcase strategy, making Padel look like an intelligent discipline, played not just with muscles, but also with passion and brain.

While the Padel star is going to become increasingly known (the delay in popularity not being at all his fault) across the globe wherever there is Padel from now on, in Argentina Belasteguin is already something more. He is a leading example of how to connect with the motherland and people through popularity. The proceeds from his 2015 autobiography have gone to projects helping Argentine children, especially in Bolivar, where the Escuela Especial de Pádel bearing Bela’s name was founded.

Today Fernando is no. 10 in the FIP ranking, not too far from no. 5. Should he get good results here at the Italy Major Premier Padel event he could rise further. But legends such as Bela are made up of more than just statistics. It’s the impressions left on the crowds - and for Bela there are many - who come to see players make magic that cannot be seen elsewhere. It’s what they will do for the sport of Padel in their life beyond their career.