Top Swedish player on playing World Padel Tour at home: ”Going to give everything”

— We're going to give everything we can and fight for every point, Daniel Windahl says to Padel Alto. 

Padel Alto was on-site at Riva Club de Padel in the south-eastern outskirts of Madrid on Tuesday. Mostly promising Spaniards and Argentinians competed for a ticket to Mexico and the Open tournament going on there later this season. 

But also some older experienced players have been much better ranked in the past. One of them is the legendary Mati Diaz. 

Yesterday, on the other side of the net from Mati Diaz was a Swede: Daniel Windahl, who has made significant steps this year and is approaching the top 100 in the World Padel Tour ranking. 

— The first set we played solidly, we had our chances. I think we should have had a double break, but it was only one. In the tiebreak, we make two or three mistakes, Daniel Windahl says to Padel Alto after the match. 

The match was close, 6-7, 4-6. Daniel Windahl and his Argentinian partner Martin Andornino only managed to break once but had the chance of more. One of them was a controversial point in the golden point where Daniel Windahl and Martin Andornino wanted the point, while Mati Diaz insisted. The point was replayed and won by Javi Perez and Mati Diaz. 

— There are different opinions. They think it's out, and we believe it's in. I was hoping that point wouldn't have to be retaken, Daniel Windahl says. 

But the fact that Daniel Windahl is playing close against Mati Diaz and Javi Perez says a lot. In April 2019, I was in the same club, watching him in the qualifier together with another Swede, Simon Vasquez. 

”There is a big difference”

Then it was a short-lived match in the first game of Pre-Previa. Two and a half years later, the Swede easily wins some Pre-Previa matches and goes to the second round of the Previa, and well, there plays close against Mati Diaz and Javi Perez. 

— There is a big difference. This year alone, I've made great progress, and I feel respected here in a completely different way, Daniel Windahl says. 

Although the season has been successful, it hasn't been enough to advance to the main round yet. Next week, however, audiences will get the chance to see the Swedish-Argentine pair in the Malmo Padel Open in Sweden. 

The team has been given a wildcard to the main round. 

— I didn't think we would get it. So it came as a happy surprise, Daniel Windahl says. 

Daniel Windahl had previously played in the main round when the tour was in Sweden in 2018 and 2019. For his partner, Martin Andornino, it will be the first time to play in a World Padel Tour main round. 

— I will enjoy it so much. We have had great results lately, so I'm very happy for our team, Martin Andornino says. 

Daniel Windahl is from Helsingborg, close to Malmo, so of course, it will be a special feeling for the Swede.

— It's my zone in the south of Sweden. It´s a special feeling. I know a lot of people who will show up. We're going to give everything we can and fight for every point. 

The main draw is not official yet for the Malmo Padel Open. But it doesn't matter who's on the other side of the net next Wednesday when the main round starts in Malmo Arena that takes 6000 persons a day. 

— It will be a tough match either way. So we are prepared for it and give everything we have, Daniel Windahl says.