The Padel Insider

Your weekly dose of padel's biggest stories, hottest takes, and insider insights

Ale Galán just reminded everyone why he's called "The Alien" with a jaw-dropping 48-winner performance at the Premier Padel Finals in Barcelona—even in defeat. While the Spanish star was back at M3 Padel Academy this week, playfully telling teammate Íñigo Jofre "sé contar perfectamente" (I can count perfectly) after a lopsided tie-break, his Barcelona showing signals something bigger: a player who dominated three seasons as world No. 1 is hitting his stride again just as the 2026 season kicks into high gear.

Big Developments

🚀 Ale Galán's Comeback Tour Gains Serious Momentum

The former world No. 1 delivered a statement performance at the Premier Padel Finals in Barcelona, stringing together an incredible 48 winners despite ultimately losing the match. Back at M3 Padel Academy for preseason training under coach Jorge Martínez, Galán was in playful form, joking with training partner Íñigo Jofre about scorekeeping while clearly feeling confident about his game.

Why it matters: Galán's ability to produce 48 winners in a single match—even in defeat—demonstrates he's operating at an elite level again after his partnership with Federico Chingotto showed promise in 2025. With three world No. 1 seasons under his belt (2020, 2021, 2022), this performance data suggests he's genuinely positioned to challenge for the throne again in 2026, which could completely reshape the men's rankings and tournament seeding calculations.

Read more at Mundo Deportivo

⚡ Top Seeds Finally Deliver in Qatar

After a tournament full of upsets in Riyadh, the favorites are holding serve at the Qatar Premier Padel event, with top-ranked pairs advancing as expected through the early rounds. The shift represents a return to form for the circuit's elite players.

Why it matters: This stabilization after Riyadh's chaos could signal that the top players have adjusted their preparation and tactics following those shocking early exits. For betting markets and tournament predictions, this consistency among favorites suggests the ranking hierarchy is reasserting itself, making future draws more predictable and potentially impacting how lower-ranked pairs approach matches against elite competition.

Read more at Analistas Padel

Teemo's Thoughts: The fact that Galán can drop 48 winners in a loss tells you everything about where men's padel is right now—the margin between elite and world-beating is razor thin. His confidence is infectious, and if he keeps this up with Chingotto, we might be looking at the most competitive season in years. The favorites finally showing up in Qatar feels like the calm before another storm of upsets.

Insights

🎯 Mastering the Flat Smash: Bringing the Ball Home

Rodrigo Ovide breaks down the technical nuances of executing a flat smash that brings the ball back to your side of the court, focusing on contact point, racket angle, and follow-through mechanics. The technique requires precise timing and body positioning to generate the right trajectory while maintaining power.

Why it matters: This specific variation of the smash creates a high-percentage offensive option that forces opponents into defensive positions while keeping you in control of the point. Unlike traditional smashes that often give opponents net position, mastering this technique allows aggressive players to maintain court control while still applying pressure—a tactical evolution that's becoming increasingly important at the professional level.

Read more at El Neverazo

Quick Hits

• Sanyo Gutiérrez debuts the new Siux Diablo Revolution II Sanyo Pro racket, featuring updated specifications designed for his aggressive playing style. Read more at Analistas Padel

• Manu Martín shares five essential tips for improving baseline defense, focusing on footwork positioning and shot selection from the back of the court. Read more at El Neverazo

• Spain's potential 2026 World Championship roster speculation heats up as analysts debate which players deserve national team spots. Read more at Analistas Padel

Community Updates

🎁 HEAD's Player Survey Sweepstakes

HEAD is running a comprehensive player survey with a chance to win professional-grade rackets, gathering data on player preferences and equipment trends across different skill levels. The initiative reflects the brand's push to understand grassroots player needs while building community engagement.

Read more at Analistas Padel

That's a wrap on this week's padel action! Got tips or stories? Hit reply and let us know what we missed.