Agustín Gutiérrez: "With Campa we will be a solid pair"
Agustín Gutiérrez had a great 2023 and is already preparing for the start of a new season. After finishing the year with Sanyo Gutiérrez, the 'Oveja' will have Lucas Campagnolo as his partner in a project aimed at big goals.
Agus Gutiérrez is clearly on an upward curve. 2023 was, for example, the year of his first semifinals in the World Padel Tour at that great tournament in Madrid where he defeated Lebrón and Galán. The young Argentine spoke to Padel Alto to talk about his new partner, goals for 2024, preseason, and much more.
QUESTION. You were doing part of the preseason in Argentina and another part in Spain. Are you already looking forward to starting 2024?
ANSWER. Most years I try to be in San Luis with my family. It's two weeks of vacation, and from January onwards, I start moving around a bit. I do the first two weeks of preseason in Argentina. When it's time to step up, I return to Spain and meet with the team to get ready.
Q. Although physical preparation weighs heavily in the preseason, from a purely technical standpoint, have you sought to improve any particular shot?
A. Preseason emphasizes physical preparation a lot. With so many trips and tournaments, it's important to stay fit. During the competition, you go to the gym on days when you don't play, but it's not the same. In general, in the technical aspect, I always rely a lot on the partner I'm going to have. I had been playing with Josete Rico and with Sanyo, now I will do it with Campa. You have to adapt and rotate the puzzle so that everything fits together in the best way. We have to try to bring out the best version of ourselves and our partner.
Q. How have these first few days been with Campa?
A. We played the P1 in Mendoza in 2022 and got along very well. I knew him from juniors, but we had never trained or prepared a season together. These were our first weeks together. I went to Madrid and he came to Villena. Honestly, very good. I am happy, excited, and eager to dive in headfirst.
Q. Speaking of partners, last year was special. You had the luxury of playing with Sanyo, who is your uncle, but also one of your padel references.
A. Since I was a kid, I always said I liked how he played, not because he was my uncle. I think he's a genius. When I was little, I tried to copy him. It was a nice end to the season, but also complicated because players of such a high level expect results. What was an incredible tournament for me was normal for him. I learned a lot.
Q. Many new circuits are emerging, such as this week's Ultimate Padel Tour. You are registered and also come out as the number 1 seed.
A. I found out about the circuit when I returned from Argentina. Claudio Gilardoni (his coach) mentioned it to me, and I also talked about it with Campa. I don't think we're at 100%, but it's a good opportunity to get a first look at what the partnership will be like. Training is one thing, competing is another. I don't pay much attention to being the number 1 seed because I'm clear that we're not the best in the world, but we will go to compete, to dive in headfirst. The circuit looks promising, it looks good.
Q. What are the objectives in the Premier?
A. We are ranked as the 14th pair. The goal is to move up. The year is very long. The calendar is tough and long. There is a lot of traveling involved. The first step is to gel together so that the partnership is solid and ready for battle. If we do it well, the results will come naturally. If they beat us, let it be because they have done better, not because of us.
Q. Do players also notice the overall growth that padel is experiencing worldwide?
A. There are more and more new padel brands, events, major companies investing. Maybe players notice it less because we're in a bubble where we focus a lot on competing, we don't pay as much attention. But it is true that many opportunities are arising. It's growing in Asia, Central America, Oceania, Africa. That's very good for the sport. We notice a lot of growth. We feel all the buzz surrounding it.
