Exclusive interview with Sanyo: ”I used to be much braver”
— I used to be much braver and was not afraid of anything, Sanyo Gutierrez says.
Two wins in three attempts. Sanyo Gutierrez´s and Fernando Belasteguin´s season have started successfully. This week awaits the fourth Open tournament in Santander.
But Sanyo is not happy yet.
— It is not easy to win two out of three, but the year is long. If we stay there, in our mindset, I don't think we will finish very high at the end of the season. We have to go on and fight all year long, Sanyo Gutierrez says to Padel Alto before the Santander Open.
In Vigo Open, the experienced pair lost in the first set all the way from the quarter-final to the final. But in every game, they made a great comeback and turned it around. In the semi-final against Pablo Lima and Agustin Tapia, Fernando Belasteguin suffered an injury in his calf.
— Bela played with a weakened body, but he could move. Maybe he couldn't jump or run fast, but he could move and keep on fighting.
After winning the semi-final, it seemed that Bela would not play in the final. But even though the injury was clearly visible, they won against Paquito Navarro and Martin Di Nenno.
— I focused on my work, and I think he was playing well. I never thought about his leg, the MVP player from Vigo Open, Sanyo Gutierrez, says.
”We try to see each other once a week”
Sanyo Gutierrez tells us about the key to the success of the Argentinian pair. Even if it is the first season together, he expected Bela and Sanyo to be a competitive team already from the start.
— We both similarly understand the game. We have to keep on in that flow. I think that's how our best version comes out.
Fernando Belasteguin lives in Barcelona since 2007. Sanyo Gutierrez lives 730 kilometers from there, in Valladolid. It differs greatly from its competitors, most of whom have the opportunity to train together every day.
— We try to see each other once a week, the problem is now with many tournaments we can't always meet. But every time I can, I go to Barcelona to add hours together. I´ll do that.
Sanyo Gutierrez reveals that he will not stay long in Valladolid. At the end of the year, he will move with his family to Alicante.
”I used to be much braver.”
— I like the way people live there. I like the climate, the sea, and I have a great work project there. I will tell you about it if it goes ahead, Sanyo Gutierrez says with a smile.
Last year Sanyo Gutierrez and his wife, Valeria Pavon, a former World Padel Tour player, became parents to Bruno.
— I used to be much braver and was not afraid of anything. Now I have a little person who has filled my heart. I always think that he needs me, and I want to give him everything I can in education. I don't know if I will be a good father, but he will never lack love, Sanyo says.
This season, two new Spanish talents have broken through on the World Padel Tour: Arturo Coello and, latest, the 17-year-old Javi Leal, who went from Pre Previa to the Vigo Open.
— I met Javi a couple of years ago and just told one of my nephews that I really liked this guy. I think his goal should be to improve every day and become as complete as possible now, Sanyo says.
Before the season started, many expected the finals to be between Alejandro Galan/Juan Lebron, who dominated the World Padel Tour last season, and the new constellation of Bela and Sanyo. Three tournaments have passed, and they have not yet faced each other in a tournament.
— The truth is that I don't know when it will be. But the finals are for those who have done the best in the whole tournament. There is a reason why it hasn't happened yet. But I still believe that they are the pair to beat this season.
”I would love to win in Argentina this year.”
In November this season, the Argentinian pair will go home to Argentina when Buenos Aires Masters is settled. The last time Sanyo Gutierrez won here was in 2018. Last year, the tournament was canceled due to Covid-19.
Now he is really looking forward to going back with the greatest padel player in Argentinian history, Fernando Belasteguin.
— The masters are more important, but I think that both Opens and Masters are very important in terms of points. Having said that, I would love to win in Argentina this year.
Bela and Sanyo play their first match in Santander Open on Thursday, facing Lucas Campagnolo and Lucas Bergamini.
