Tapia and Coello: “A call, the immediate chemistry, and now the desire to stay at the top for many more years”

Fourteen titles won in 2024, along with 47 consecutive victories from July to December and the top spot in the FIP ranking for the second year in a row. Arturo Coello and Agustin Tapia are ready to get back to work after an unforgettable season, “almost perfect”, as Arturo says in an interview with the official channels of the International Padel Federation.

THE BIRTH OF THE PROJECT “It was an almost perfect season… let’s save that ‘almost’ for next year, so we can improve even more”, says the star from Valladolid, who in just two years – starting in the 2023 season – has had an unstoppable rise alongside his Argentine partner. A partnership that started thanks to Arturo’s initiative: “It was more than two and a half years ago, I was the one who called him. At that point, I took the leap. It was hard for him to say yes because he was playing with Sanyo. I asked him if he’d be up for starting a project with two players around the same age, with the idea of playing together for several years and building something long-lasting. And he said yes. I was surprised too. I thought it was possible, but I thought we might need a couple more years before we could play together. But it happened, and I think from the start, even though we’re really different, we clicked. Over time, the relationship has just grown”. Tapia also felt an instant connection: “It’s true he called me, but I was already thinking about it, and I probably would have called him soon. He was already playing great, and I think it was the right moment to start playing together. The chemistry was there from the first practice, and the results proved we were right”. For the Argentine, the key is “respect. Understanding each other and knowing each other is key”.

GOAL: LEGEND After two years full of success, the motivation is still strong: “When you reach one goal, others quickly follow”, Coello continues in the interview with FIP’s official channels. “Being number one motivates us to stay there for as long as possible. We know it’s tough, there are a lot of players fighting for the same goal, but we want to make our mark in padel, alongside the greatest: Díaz, Belasteguin, Lima”. They’re determined to give their all for the biggest goal: “For me, it would be a dream, one day, when we’re no longer playing, to sit down and say, ‘Look, we made it. We sat at the table with the greatest.'” Beyond their undeniable results, Coello and Tapia are also seen as the players who’ve started a new era in padel and a new way of playing. “Honestly, I think the change started with Lebrón and Galán“, says Agus. “Then we came along, and with our playing style, we added something more. We’re really happy with everything we’re achieving. In the end, it’s our dream, and we’re living it”.

EMOTIONS A lot of emotions also means needing a good way to manage them: “We do it naturally”, says Coello. “We go through tough times, with a lot of pressure every day, and then there are moments that might seem easier to outsiders, but for us, they’re a big effort. I think Agustín is more emotional; I find it a bit harder to let go. But there are so many emotions we go through on the court, and sometimes you just have to express them”. And speaking of emotions, Tapia shares one of the most important moments of 2024, when he found himself facing Coello in the final of the World Championships in Doha: “It was tough. At least on my side, I didn’t want to play that final against Arturo”, he admits. “It was strange having him on the other side, seeing his game from the other end of the court. But in the end, I hold on to the fact that, from the outside, you can really see how amazing he is, just like I always see him from my side. It worked out for us, for Argentina. Luckily, these things happen once every two years”. Now that a new season is coming up, Arturo has a message for the Coello and Tapia of 2025: “Never forget what’s gotten you to where you are”.

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