Juan Martín Díaz
PADDLE
Juan Martín is undoubtedly one of those examples of how sport changes our lives. He was always willing to pay the price to achieve his dreams.
Since he was little, his ease with the racket was seen and he went through several years of competition in tennis, being one of the best in the city and even competing at the provincial level.
However, back in 1987, at the age of 12, he discovered a new sport that would attract his attention: paddle tennis.
At the age of 15, Juan was one of the best paddle tennis players in his city, Mar del Plata, and he decided to leave tennis to dedicate himself 100% to paddle tennis.
- At the delivery of the most important Sports Awards in Argentina, he was awarded as one of the promises of national sport at the age of 17, when he was already among the best professionals in the country.
- At 18, he decided to go live in Buenos Aires to dedicate himself 100% to paddle tennis. He was already among the best 4 couples in the country, playing alongside Alejandro Sanz.
- At the age of 21, he decided to go live in Spain , adopting Spanish nationality, which would allow him to start playing on the Spanish Circuit at that time, which was the most professionalized, since there had not been a World Circuit until then.
Juan took on the challenge, and from there began the career of what for many is the best padel player of all time.
- European Champion in pairs in 1997 and 1998 with Alberto Rodríguez Piñón.
- World Champion in pairs in the years 2000 (Hernán Auguste), 2002 and 2004 (Fernando Belasteguín).
- European Champion in pairs in 1997 and 1998 with Alberto Rodríguez Piñón.
Together with Fernando Belasteguín, he remained at the top of the paddle, being number 1 in the world for 14 consecutive years , a record difficult to match that made him a legend of paddle tennis and sports.
- The only couple in the history of paddle tennis, to spend 1 year and 9 months undefeated, winning 23 consecutive tournaments.
- 170 tournaments won over 191 finals that they played , both on the Padel Pro Tour and the World Padel Tour.
- He has played paddle tennis in exhibition tournaments with great personalities, such as Juan Carlos Ferrero (former world number 1 tennis player), Novak Djokovic (another former world number 1 tennis player).
