Padel World Press - We meet the protagonist of the interview in Fuenlabrada, in a macro sports complex where the M3 paddle academy prepares the tournaments World Padel Tour outdoor He summons us to breakfast because he has just trained technique, and then two hours of physics await him. Understandable
Multigrain toast and red tea in between, attends Padel World Press Alejandro Galán. Ale Galán for the general public. One of the big names of the season and the world paddle. Close and shy at the same time. Professional and humble in your answers. Centered. Sportsman in all his conception.
PWP - You have been three titles this year, improving both of the past. Is it the best moment of your career?
AG - Yes, the truth is that I am constantly evolving. I hope this year was the best and not the best of my career (laughs honestly).
PWP - It has changed your life very fast. In just two years you have gone from playing at the federative level and preprevias to be in the top-8 of the WPT. How do you face that jump?
AG - The change has been rapid. I live it naturally because I know that three years ago I was in preprevias. The daily work I have with my colleagues and the team around me makes me very aware of the effort involved in being where I am.
PWP - How many people make up your staff?
AG - The M3 Academy with Mariano Amat and Jorge Martínez, my physical trainer, the nutritionist, the support of the psychologist ... well, about 8 or 10 people.
PWP - Have you noticed a sharp change in your personal life?
AG - Yeah right. Your goals evolve. I have a much stricter routine.
PWP - Are you already stopped in the street?
AG - Ever yes. I think it is not because of me but because of the evolution that the paddle is achieving and the follow-up it is having. Now many people practice paddle tennis and they already know the professional players. It is a job that is being done very well.
PWP - How is your day?
AG - I have a very marked routine. I wake up a little before 8 in the morning, I train an hour and a half of paddle and two others of physique. This from Monday to Friday and, if there is no tournament, Saturday and Sunday I also train physically. In the afternoon is when I go to the physiotherapist, psychologist or double session.
PWP - What is the leisure of a professional paddle player?
AG - I am a very familiar person and, when I say family, I mean both my friends and my blood family that I am most proud of. I usually go bowling, I'm going to see my family or the movies. In fact, this week I went three times.
PWP - What have you seen?
AG - Good guys, Objective Washington and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
PWP - Did you like Tarantino's last?
AG - It is entertaining, but it was hard for me to catch the thread.
PWP - It's funny, inside the track you are energetic and outside of it you enjoy the tranquility ...
AG - Yes, indeed. As a child it was all energy and they told me that I had no wick, that it was gunpowder directly (laughs with sincerity). I like to have an orderly life and I am very aware that I come from a humble family and what are the values they have given me.
PWP - You always have your family in mind ...
AG - Always. In my house it has been like this, my parents worked, and a lot, to make ends meet. They never had the chance to pay me for workouts every day as many other children could and I did it only once a week with luck.
PWP - Because you come from a middle class family, of course.
AG - Yes. Like many families we had economic problems and we have struggled a lot to get ahead thanks to the effort our parents have made. And I talk about both my sister and me. We cannot forget that our family did not go on vacation, for example, so that their children could play tournaments. We have these things very, very present and we can never give back everything they have given us.
PWP - Do you think that makes you connect more with the public? I say being an example of coming from below to reaching the top.
AG - I do not know. I am very grateful to the public who always treats me with love and makes me feel very clothed. Many times, when maybe I leave a game, it is they who make me resume my best level.
PWP - What are your references?
AG - My father, who has always fought and has been working more than 12 daily hours to get us ahead, and my mother for her ability to overcome and endure life and even the disease to help us.
PWP - And in the world of sports?
AG - Juan Martín, on the paddle, because he is unique, and Federer and Nadal because they symbolize talent and work capacity.
PWP - Federer or Nadal? You already know that in this country you can't keep one ...
AG - They are different. One thing is who I would like to look like playing, that would be Roger, and another is the athlete himself as Nadal is that represents the improvement. It happens as with Cristiano and Messi.
PWP - How would you define yourself.
AG - I always say, among my friends, and with forgiveness, that I am a pain. When I'm plugged in, I'm hardened, a fighter and always try to win.
PWP - What is your best shot and what is it that no matter how much you train it does not improve?
AG - Where I am most comfortable is on the volley and where I suffer most on the globe. But I'm improving the defense part (laughs).
PWP - You are very young and you still have more than 10 years ahead. Where do you imagine the paddle?
AG - I do not know. I guess it will change a lot and that new things will be introduced that make it better as a sport. I just hope that, whatever happens, I'm number one (jokes and laughs out loud)
PWP - Is that your biggest goal?
AG - I don't know when it will happen, but I want to be. My biggest goal is to find my best level because, I think, I can do it with him. I still have much, much to improve. I have won several tournaments, yes, but I need a lot of regularity.
PWP - Paddle tennis is more demanding than ever ...
AG - If other players arrive who do better and are above, we must congratulate them and that's it. If I get my best level, I will be more satisfied. But, yes, I think I can be number one and I will go for it.
PWP - Two years ago you signed up for Adidas Padel. What does it mean to be the most prominent player of such an important brand?
AG - When I signed, it was a release. Entering Adidas Padel meant for my peace of mind, which is something I need to do my best.
PWP - Do you feel the franchise player?
AG - Not at all. When I arrived, the first thing they did was make me feel part of their family. We are all the same and everyone gives us the same importance. I hope it is a long time.
PWP - Let's focus now on this year. 2019, Ale Galán starts project with Juani Mieres. The year does not start well and, when he takes flight with the Buenos Aires final, you decide to change and leave with Pablo Lima. As a step?
AG - Juani and I talked that we were going to play alone this year. I wanted to soak up his experience and, although the results did not accompany, we knew we needed time. It was just before Buenos Aires that I made the decision and I had no plans to change.
PWP - It calls you Lima or vice versa.
AG - Pablo calls me after knowing Bela's decision. I understand that it is an opportunity to start a long-term project because of Juani's age and Pablo's age and I decide to face a new challenge.
PWP - And you start with Pablo and you take the tournaments of Valencia and Mijas. Did you expect it?
AG - We have exceeded any goal, yes, but our idea was to connect as a couple. Even when we have won the first two tournaments. The important thing is to know, continue with the same desire and, as our motto of 'Claw and Heart' says, fight every moment.
PWP - But did you ever think of winning so soon?
AG - It is always an objective, of course, but it was not indispensable.
PWP - And Madrid arrives in September, perhaps the most anticipated tournament by Ale Galán and you fall in the quarterfinals against Uri Botello and Javi Ruiz.
AG - It was a sad situation, but we can do nothing.
PWP - How did you live it?
AG - I had high hopes, not in terms of results, but because of the level. I think it was the only game in which we didn't play well and they did. It makes me sad, but they were clear winners because they played an 10 paddle.
PWP - Now comes the Cascais Padel Master, the second test of this final stretch of the year, and it is more open than ever. How do you face the next challenges?
AG - It is true that paddle has more alternatives than ever, but we are an even new couple. All the pairs have a lot of level and we only think about working, training and competing to continue progressing.
PWP - Thank you and good luck.
AG - Thank you.
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