What do Alejandro Chori Domínguez, Mariano Pernía, Roberto Toro Acuña, José Chatruc or Darío Cvitanich do after football? Among other things, play paddle tennis And a lot. They and 28 other former players participated in the first tournament of the soccer-paddle circuit (FUPA) that a duo with Racing DNA won.
In the final, played in the Buenos Aires neighborhood of Belgrano, they were crowned Luis Benitez y Valentin Viola after defeating the duo that formed the Paraguayans Roberto Acuña y Pablo Velazquez. It was 4-6, 6-4 and 7-4 with a super tiebreak.
“The tournament was very good, we saw a very good level of padel. We hope that this is the starting point for the circuit and that it spreads to other countries,” analyzed Viola, emboldened by the first conquest.
16 couples participated and although there will be another date for this contest in November, it is expected that in 2025 the FUPA circuit will expand to neighboring countries and grow as a reference competition for retired soccer players. In groups made up of four couples, the first in each zone qualified for the Gold Cup, while the rest qualified for the Silver Cup.
The consolation trophy was lifted by the duo of Rodrigo Rengo Díaz and Martín Minadevinowho defeated the Uruguayan duo of Roberto Brum-Richard Requelme by a double 6-4.
The genesis of the tournament has Renato Civelli and Nicolás Navarro as protagonists, since both had organized one the previous year with footballers. That inspired journalists Juan Marconi and Diego Cánepa and padel commentator Clemente Vergara to think about the idea of a circuit.
The idea is to implement a ranking and have it developed in other countries as well. Pairs made up of former Argentine soccer players, but also from Uruguay, Chile and Paraguay, participated in this.
What brings footballers to padel after their retirement? “In my case I don’t know, because I haven’t beaten anyone yet. I’m undefeated,” says José Chatruc, who, as a couple with Mariano Pernía, failed to advance in the tournament organized in Belgrano.
Physical preparation throughout their career is a plus that former footballers have when it comes to landing in padel. Maybe with the paddle they don’t have the technique that allowed them to become professionals with the number five, but they have some points that can make them “better” than other paddle tennis amateurs.
“In general, they understand the game faster and physical activity becomes easier for them. Could they join a professional circuit? With that ease of understanding the game and the training discipline, whoever wants to be a professional will probably be one,” considers the coach Marcelo Misevichwhich marks the difference between those who played soccer and other students.
After having won – together with her partner Luis Benítez – the first trophy that the padel circuit offered for former footballers, Viola was enthusiastic “We are happy and grateful for the treatment and attention we received. We hope that this will be the starting point for the circuit and that it spreads to other countries”. Next month he will have the opportunity to defend the title when the tournament is repeated in the City of Buenos Aires.
Viola and Benítez’s path to the top of the podium began with a victory against the Carlos Matheu-Emanuel Rivas duo, continued with a new victory against Jeremías Caggiano-Luciano Olguin and was crowned against the Paraguayans Acuña-Velázquez, who had reached that instance after beating Pablo Santillo-Nicolás Navarro in the quarterfinals and Franco Cangele-Renato Civelli in the semis.
All couples
In addition to the winner made up of Benítez and Viola, the pairs Jeremías Caggiano-Luciano Olguín, Franco Cangele-Renato Civelli, Chori Domínguez-Pablo Alvarado, Emiliano Insúa-Leo Rodríguez, Pablo Santillo-Nicolás Navarro, Rodrigo Díaz-Martin Minadevino and the Chileans Jean Beausejour-Jorge Valdivia.
The couples were completed by Guillermo Pereyra-Dario Cvitanich, Nicolás Bianchi Arce-Miguel Caneo, Roberto Brum-Richard Requelme, Roberto Acuña – Pablo Velazquez, Mariano Pernía-José Chatruc, Lucas Mareque-Ignacio Canuto, Carlos Matheu-Emanuel Rivas and Ricky Álvarez-Pablo Mouche.