Who Are The Best Male Padel Players?

Here is a list of the current ten best male padel players as we head into the 2020 season. It contains a mix of wiry experience and youthful energy.

It will be interesting to see how the season plays out with many players just outside the top ten that are looking for either a comeback or breakthrough.

1. Francisco Navarro Compan

Nationality: Spain
Born: 10 February 1989 in Sevilla, Spain
Residence: Madrid, Spain
Height: 1,81m
Preferred Playing Position: Backhand court
WPT Matches played: 382
Win/Loss Ratio: 289/93
WPT Best Win Streak: 15
WPT Pro Since: 2013
WPT Career Tournament Titles: 16 (5 in 2019)

Francisco, best known as Paquito, started playing padel at the age of 5. His talent was spotted early on when, at age 9, he started winning titles in junior tournaments. By age 20 he was top-ranked when he won the World Cup in his category. Since then, Paquito hasn’t stopped winning titles. He is the only Spanish player who has been Spanish Champion across all age categories – from junior to elite titles.

Paquito (nicknamed “The Hurricane”), started playing professionally in 2009 and for the next 10 years, he would remain on the top 10 ranked players on the WPT ranking list, often than not, amongst the top 5.

Today, Paquito is one of Spain’s most celebrated and popular players with a huge fan base. You just have to switch on the television and listen to the Spanish commentators going wild, shouting, Paquito -Paquito-Paquitooooo, every time Paquito plays a winner.

His charisma combined with his deadly skill and fearsome presence on court makes him the Rafael Nadal of padel in Spain. His training involves many hours on court combined with regular gym workouts.

2. Juan Lebron Chincoa

Nationality: Spain
Born: 30 January 1995 in Puerto de Santa Maria, Andalucia, Spain
Residence: Madrid, Spain
Height: 1,84m
Preferred Playing Position: Backhand court
WPT Matches played: 268
Win/Loss Ratio: 161/107
WPT Best Win Streak: 15
WPT Pro Since: 2013
WPT Career Tournament Titles: 5 (5 in 2019)

Juan Lebrón, the new kid on the “court”, showed that he is a force to be reckoned with early on in his career. Lebrón stood out as a junior, winning the Spanish Junior Championships title several times.

Lebrón, nicknamed “Wolf,” started his professional career in 2016, and quickly became a crowd favorite, not only for his exceptional talent but also for his handsome looks.

His meteoric rise to the top culminated in an explosive 2019 season, which saw him make history when he became the first Spanish born WPT number one player in Sao Paulo in Brazil, previously held by Latin America players since 2013!

Lebrón ended the season joined number one paired with Paquito Navarro on the WPT rankings, once again, making history by becoming the first Spanish players ever to take the top position on the rankings list.

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3. Alejandro Galan Romo

Nationality: Spain
Born: 15 May 1996 in Madrid, Spain
Residence: Madrid, Spain
Height: 1,86m
Preferred Playing Position: Backhand court
WPT Matches played: 252
Win/Loss Ratio: 166/86
WPT Best Win Streak: 10
WPT Pro Since: 2014
WPT Career Tournament Titles: 7 (5 in 2019)

Alé Galán (nickname Gallant) has consistently worked his way up to the top since 2016 when he turned professional. He’s among the new generation of young players hungry for the top spot, ready to take on the old guard of experienced players with their youth, talent, and speed on the court.

At the age of 5, Ale Galán started fooling around playing padel with his sister Alba (ranked 18^th) and the neighborhood kids without realizing they were playing padel.

He quickly caught on and started playing competitively at the age of 7, but claims he never really achieved much success during this time. However, all this changed when at age 18, he was awarded a sports scholarship at a prestigious Padel Academy in Madrid.

Since then, Ale Galán has never looked back as he hammered his way into the number three spot at the end of a stellar 2019 season. He is the youngest player in the top 10ranking list.

In spite of his success, Alé Galán remains humble at heart, never forgetting his humble beginnings in a poor part of Madrid where family and friends are still everything. He admits though, that his one big fear on the court is facing a big lob played by the opponent!

4. Carlos Daniel Gutierrez

Nationality: Argentina
Born: 15 June 1984 in San Luis, Argentina
Residence: Madrid, Spain
Height: 1,77m
Preferred Playing Position: Forehand court
WPT Matches played: 401
Win/Loss Ratio: 315/86
WPT Best Win Streak: 13
WPT Pro Since: 2013
WPT Career Tournament Titles: 24 (5 in 2019)

At age 36, Sanyo Gutiérrez is one of the most celebrated and experienced players on the WPT circuit today. He started playing padel at age 11 in his home country Argentina, during the time that the sport was growing fast in popularity.

He initially played a bit of tennis but was encouraged by his father and brother, who themselves switched from tennis to padel, to take up padel instead. Although he enjoyed playing football, Sanyo knew from early on that he was going to make padel his career.

He entered the professional circuit at the age of 15 in the junior category, and soon his magic on the court made an impression. To advance his career, he decided to move to Spain in 2006.

He played his first Masters Finals in 2011 and since has never looked back. With his huge talent, total dedication and commitment to the sport, his career has been growing from strength to strength.

But it was when he re-teamed with fellow countryman, Maxi Sanchez, that he reached the pinnacle of success in a glorifying 2018 season. The Argentine duo not only managed to win 8 titles but was also crowned Best Male Couple 2018 that saw them ranked number one on the World Padel Tour rankings.

To keep his competitive edge playing at the top level, Sanyo trains about four hours per day to keep him both physically and mentally fit.

5. Maximiliano Sanchez

Nationality: Argentina
Born: 15 December 1986 in Villa Mercedes, Argentina
Residence: Madrid, Spain
Height: 1,83m
Preferred Playing Position: Backhand court
WPT Matches played: 385
Win/Loss Ratio: 293/92
WPT Best Win Streak: 13
WPT Pro Since: 2013
WPT Career Tournament Titles: 18 (5 in 2019)

Argentine Maxi (the “Shark”) Sánchez is known for both his determination and aggressiveness on the court, fighting for each point until the very last.

Encouraged by his parents, he started playing padel at the age of 7. By the age of 13, he decided to dedicate himself to the sport of padel. Like his compatriot and teammate, Sanyo Gutiérrez, he decided to move to Spain to advance his career.

Maxi turned professional in 2006 and by the end of the 2013-2016 season, he was riding the crest of the wave as three times Masters Final Champion, twice with Sanyo Gutiérrez (2013/ 2014), and once with Juan Martín Diaz in 2015. By the end of 2016, Maxi the “Shark” was Word Padel Tour Champion, a clear sign he wasn’t gonna stop anytime soon.

His dedication and commitment paid off when he was awarded the Best Male Team 2018 title together with teammate Sanyo Gutiérrez, once again, finding himself at the top of the game. He still plays for the Argentinian team in the World Championships that takes place every three years.

However, Maxi the “Shark “is not without heart. Away from the court, Maxi is a dedicated family man, who likes to chill out and spend quality time with his kids when he is not training or competing somewhere else around the world.

6. Pablo Lima

Nationality: Brazil
Born: 11 October 1986 in Porto Alegre, Brazil
Residence: Bilbao, Spain
Height: 1,80
Preferred Playing Position: Forehand court
WPT Matches played: 397
Win/Loss Ratio: 342/55
WPT Best Win Streak: 53
WPT Pro Since: 2013
WPT Career Tournament Titles: 45 (3 in 2019)

Pablo Lima’s rise to the top was very quick. He’s not called “the Master” for nothing. His very name and presence on court combined with his speed and masterful skill are enough to intimidate his opponents before the game has even started.

Pablo started playing padel at the age of 9 under the guidance of his father turned coach back in his home country Brazil. He soon established himself as an exceptional talent, getting selected to play for the Brazilian Junior Team, a position that allowed him entry into the Spanish Junior Championships in 2004.

Living Argentine padel legend, Roby Gattiker was so impressed by the youngster’s talent that he convinced Lima to partner with him during the 2006-2007 seasons. Since then, Lima’s masterful skills on-court has won him a string of medals in an illustrious WPT career spanning seven years, winning 345 matches played out of a total of 400 matches played.

The 34-year-old Lima once again proved his masterful skills when he was named the Best Player in the Barcelona Masters Final 2019. In an explosive final against the formidable pairing of Bela and Tapia, Lima made only three – get that – 3 unforced errors during the entirety of the match! Proving once and for all that Pablo Lima is the Master of the Masters!

7. Fernando Belasteguin

Nationality: Argentina
Born: 19 May 1979 in Pehuajo, Argentina
Residence: Barcelona, Spain
Height: 1,80
Preferred Playing Position: Backhand court
WPT Matches played: 382
Win/Loss Ratio: 345/37
WPT Best Win Streak: 63
WPT Pro Since: 2013
WPT Career Tournament Titles: 57 (1 in 2019)

Belasteguin, better known as “Bela” for short, is the most successful and celebrated player on the WPT circuit to date, with a record 16 consecutive years as the number 1 ranked player in the world, earning him the nickname, “Messi Pedal,” meaning “unbeatable/ unstoppable”.

As a youngster, Bela first stepped onto the padel court in Pehuajó, Buenos Aires, with only the neighbor’s chickens to watch him play. Little did he know back then that a few years later, he would become a padel sensation whose presence on the court would fill up the stands with hundreds of devoted fans cheering him on.

In the end, the boy who loved football ended up choosing padel and was chosen by padel. He made history when at age 22, he became the youngest number 1 player in the world, a title he would hold for 16 years and 8 months, having never been achieved before or since.

Bela made his debut on the professional circuit in 1995 age 15, and 5 years later, he won Argentina’s Best Player award. In 2001 he paired up with Spanish legend, Juan Martín Diaz, and they remained the number 1 couple for 14 consecutive years, holding the unbeatable record for 1 year and 9 months, making them the most successful couple in padel history and the “kings of the court”.

By the end of 2015, teamed with Brazilian sensation, Pablo Lima, Bela continued reigning the circuit as the “king of the court” also referred to as the “Master.” Sadly, his reign was cut short by nagging injuries, forcing him into retirement by 2018.

In spite of his success on the court, Bela remains humble at heart. When asked whether he has his many medals and trophies on display at home, he simply said: “My wife (a dentist) doesn’t get a medal to show off every time she’s done four implants.”

Besides, he doesn’t want his kids to have their father’s success on the padel court weigh them down growing up. As far as he is concerned, he is their father and not the padel champion, that’s all that counts.

In 2015, Bela published his biography, simply titled “This Is My Story” (available on Amazon Kindle in English), the prologue was written by his good friend and celebrated FC Barcelona footballer Andrés Iniesta. The proceeds from the sales are being donated to a few select charities, including the Belasteguín Padel School in the city of Bolívar, Buenos Aires, Argentina, a youth development academy for disadvantaged kids from poor families.

8. Franco Stupaczuk

Nationality: Argentina
Born: 25 March 1996 in Chaco, Argentina
Residence: Madrid, Spain
Height: 1,80
Preferred Playing Position: Backhand court
WPT Matches played: 256
Win/Loss Ratio: 177/79
WPT Best Win Streak: 10
WPT Pro Since: 2013
WPT Career Tournament Titles: 7 (1 in 2019)

Argentine Franco (Stupa) Stupaczuk’s talent caught the attention of the media from an early age when he started to win junior tournaments. By the age of 8, he was Argentina U-12 Champion.

By the age of 15, he knew that padel was to be his full-time career. In 2012 he participated in the Padel World Cup and at 16 became Argentine Padel Association’s number one player. He debuted on the World Padel Tour in 2016 and barely three years later at age 23 is ranked number 8, finding himself amongst some of the best players in the world. But he’s not planning to stop here.

Stupa’s goal is to become the number one player on the WPT Rankings. He knows that to achieve his goal requires hard work. His training and nutrition are built around the latest science in sports development. He trains on average between 4-5 hours per day Monday to Friday, split between fitness and court workouts in the morning before he hits the gym for another 90 minutes in the afternoon.

With a tight calendar and little free time, Stupa tries to rest and relax as much as possible, enjoying going to the movies and doing a bit of traveling with his girlfriend before getting ready for the next tournament. But he doesn’t complain. He knows what it takes to get to the top.

9. Agustin Tapia

Nationality: Argentina
Born: 24 July 1999 in Catamarca, Argentina
Residence: Barcelona, Spain
Height: 1,79
Preferred Playing Position: Backhand court
WPT Matches played: 90
Win/Loss Ratio: 58/32
WPT Best Win Streak: 8
WPT Pro Since: 2016
WPT Career Tournament Titles: 1 (1 in 2019)

The question on everybody’s lips is, “Do you know Agustín Tapia”?

Because right now, the 21-year-old is the hottest new sensation on the WPT padel circuit playing in the “elite club” with the 10 top-ranked players in the world, and that, within the short space of a mere two seasons.

Of course, Tapia’s meteoric rise didn’t quite happen overnight.

Growing up in Argentina, home of some of Padel’s many greats, it was easy for Tapia to choose padel as his future career at a young age. Inspired by his role models such as Fernando (Bela) Belasteguin, Sanyo Gutierrez and Maxi Sánchez to name a few, the youngster immediately took to the sport and his innate talent soon made an impression.

Trained at the Padel Academy, from early on it was clear that Tapia had that something magic about him. Nicknamed “Pollo” or “Pollito’” (Spanish for “chicken of chick” thanks to his mob of floppy hair), Tapia’s elegance of style – aggressive yet calm and collected at the same time, quickly turned him into a crowd favorite.

By 2017 he was Argentinian Junior Champion as well as the Pan American Champion, humbly signing autographs for his growing fan base back home.

To advance his career, Tapia moved to Spain beginning of 2018, the same year he debuted on the WPT circuit, age 18. The 2019 season was the highlight of his short WPT career. An incredible year, with him learning from the Masters, who he had the opportunity to practice and play with and in the process, continued to improve and grow as a player.

Tapia has now only one goal left: to become world number one. He knows what takes and is all in. He trains on average 4 hours a day Monday to Friday, combining track and court training with some gym workouts.

10. Matias Diaz Sangiorgio

Nationality: Spain
Born: 27 September 1978 in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Residence: Madrid, Spain
Height: 1,68
Preferred Playing Position: Forehand court
WPT Matches played: 371
Win/Loss Ratio: 271/100
WPT Best Win Streak: 13
WPT Pro Since: 2013
WPT Career Tournament Titles: 8 (1 in 2019)

Veteran Matías Díaz Sangiorgio, better known as Mati Díaz, age 41, is currently the oldest player on the WPT circuit, determined to finally claim the elusive number one spot, which he came close to winning in 2015 when he became 2nd ranked couple with teammate Paquito Navarro.

Truth is, Mati Diaz has actually never been outside of the top 10 since he turned professional in 2008, making him one of the most celebrated players. The secret to his success is simple: he fights for every point and never gives up, hence his nickname “The Warrior”.

Mati started his career at age 9 in Argentina but soon decided to move to Spain to enroll in the Padel Academy in Madrid. He has been the Spanish champion several times and regularly represents Spain in international competitions. He won his first tournament in 2016 paired with Maxi Sanchez, his current partner.

By the end of 2018 Mati was once again in the top four teams in the world, which means he now been at the top for almost twenty years.

Over To You

Who is your favorite player? Who is your favorite pairing? Who do you think will win?

We’d like to hear from you. Leave your comments below in the comments section.

Diarize: The most anticipated moment has arrived for the best players in the world to step onto the court in the battle of the titans. The opening Tournament on the WPT 2021 calendar is the Madrid Open (in Spain).

All World Padel Tour events will be streamed live on the World Padel Tour YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/WorldPadelTour