The Aragonese player, new member of the Bullpadel Team and component of the work team of the Tennis Club Padel Soleil, has launched his Blog 'Padel around the World' in which he will tell his experiences in the different international tournaments in which he participates.
Padel World Press .- After achieving his first victories in the French Circuit and starting to teach his lessons in the spectacular club inaugurated in recent dates by the team of Monte-Carlo International Sport, Esther has decided to share her adventures with fans through a very special Blog.
Then we leave you with your first entry:
"When in September of 2008 I moved to Rome to do an internship at the Consulate of Spain with a scholarship from the University of Zaragoza for 3 months, 2 years ago I played padel as a way to have fun and keep practicing sports. I did not have them all with me when I contacted the Italian Federation to ask where I could find clues to keep playing during those months. The answer was that there was only one in the whole city, in a super exclusive club that could only be accessed by the members. Obviously, I could not step on a track in those 3 months.
This past weekend I returned to Rome, eight years later, precisely to play paddle tennis ... Because paddle tennis has been established in the transalpine country to the point of having 343 courts in 188 clubs in 2017, compared to 178 with the that counted only a year ago. And if we compare it with September 2008, just 8 and a half years later, the growth has been brutal. Its powerful interclub league is evidence of this.
The paddle in Italy is within the Italian Tennis Federation although it has its own license for obtaining it, besides having to take it out through a club and pay 50 euros, you must do a medical examination with the corresponding certificate confirming that you are in conditions to compete. Curious because in Spain, neither the Spanish Federation nor the World Pádel Tour ask you for it.
As I said, this weekend I participated in a type of tournament called Slam, which are the highest category and that distribute cash prizes, at the 1 / 3 rate women's prizes with respect to men, who pay according to the rounds at the end of the year. This type of tests are usually played by the best Italian players, including former tennis player Potito Starace, former world 30 top, and Sandrine Testud. The ex-Franco-Italian tennis player, and former world 7 top, did not contest this appointment in the Roman Due Ponti.
The truth is that the good level of Italian players is surprising, especially if we take into account that less than a decade ago this sport was completely unknown in that country. Among the practitioners, the truth is that there are still the majority of former tennis players who discover paddle tennis and no longer want to leave the 'glass box'. Of course, the tray brings them head ... It is normal among those who only knew tennis smash, but ... Prepare when they catch it !! At the moment there are few children playing but that is something that will almost certainly change in the coming years.
The tournament enjoyed a great atmosphere from day one at the Due Ponti Sporting Club, located north of Rome. It is one of the best sports and social clubs in the Italian capital and has 4 courts. In the Men's Draw, in addition to Potito Starace, the presence of Argentines Marcelo Capitani, current head of padel at Due Ponti, Cristian Calneggia and Gustavo Sarmiento (head of padel at the Pro Roma Club) stood out.
The Women's Draw, with the notable absence of Sandrine Testud, had Chiara Pappacena and Martina Lombardi, the Italian number 1, Sara Celata, Beatrice Campagna and Martina Camorani, all of them members of the Italian National Team, who finished in fifth place in the last World Cup held in Cascais. However, Zacchini-Tommasi had a great tournament and defeated Celata-Campagna in the quarterfinals in a tough match, and Camorani in the semifinals, after another 3 contested sets. In that way, they stood in the final.
For my part, my partner was Carlotta Casali, a young Italian player of 24 years who lives in Madrid since October, where she moved in order to improve her paddle and level up, and trained under the command of Alejandro Moral . From what I have been able to verify, it does not lack desire or ease of learning. A pleasure to share track and weekend with Carlotta !! You can follow her on Instagram (@carlottacasali) and on Facebook as Carlotta Casali.
So far my first Italian adventure. See you on the next trip !!
Hurry, beautiful Rome!
Esther Lasheras ».
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