Agustín Tapia

Agustín Tapia is an Argentine professional padel player and one of the most exciting and creative figures in world padel. He is famous for his spectacular shots, unorthodox decisions, and play on the left side of the court.

Biography

Tapia began playing padel in early childhood — from the age of 5 — in his hometown of Leones (Córdoba province). As a teenager, he attracted the attention of the professional community with his extraordinary style and spectacular technique.

In 2018, at the age of 17, Tapia debuted on the World Padel Tour, becoming one of the youngest players in the history of the professional tour.

Playing Style

Tapia is widely recognised as one of the most entertaining players in world padel. His hallmarks include:

Signature Shots

• Víbora — one of the best in the world at this shot. His víbora combines power with side spin, creating unpredictable wall bounces.
• Bandeja — steady and accurate, allowing him to hold his net position.
• Smash — a powerful finishing shot, especially the “por tres” (exit through the back wall).
• Trick shots — unorthodox plays: between-the-legs (gran willy), behind-the-back, delicate lobs. These earned Tapia the nickname “El Mago” (The Magician).

Court Position

Tapia plays on the left side — the attacking position that demands a strong backhand to finish rallies. As a left-side player, Tapia:

• Controls the centre of the court with his backhand
• Finishes rallies with smashes and víboras
• Takes responsibility for the pair’s aggressive actions

Key Attributes

• Creativity — Tapia is renowned for unpredictable decisions that wrong-foot opponents
• Hand speed — lightning-fast reactions at the net
• Emotion — an animated on-court presence that fans love
• Athleticism — despite not being the tallest (177 cm), he compensates with speed and jumping ability

Career and Achievements

Key Titles

[OUTDATED] This achievements table is incomplete. For current results, visit premierpadel.com.

Key Milestones

• 2018: WPT debut at age 17
• 2019: First professional title
• 2020–2022: Consistently in the world top 10
• 2023: Formed a new pair with Arturo Coello
• 2024–2025: Contending for the number-one world ranking

Statistics

[OUTDATED] Rankings and statistics are updated weekly.

Partners

Current Partner

• Arturo Coello (Spain) — since 2023. One of the most entertaining and successful pairs on the Premier Padel Circuit. The combination of Tapia’s creativity and Coello’s power creates a unique playing chemistry.

Former Partners

• Sanyo Gutiérrez (Argentina) — from 2019 to 2023. An experienced Argentine player under whose guidance Tapia grew into a world-class competitor.

Impact on Padel

Tapia has had a significant influence on the popularisation of padel:

• Attracting a younger audience — his spectacular style and social-media activity make padel appealing to young people
• Raising the entertainment bar — Tapia’s trick shots have become a hallmark of modern padel
• Inspiring beginners — his journey from a small Argentine town to the top of the world ranking motivates thousands of young players

Arturo Coello

Arturo Coello is a Spanish professional padel player and the youngest champion in World Padel Tour history. Together with Agustin Tapia, he forms the dominant pair in world padel, holding the number-one spot in the FIP rankings.

Biographical Summary

Early Career

Arturo Coello was born on 8 March 2002 in Mojados — a small town in the province of Valladolid. Padel became part of his life from an early age: his father was an avid player, and Arturo first picked up a racket at the age of 7.

Coello’s talent was evident from the start. In junior tournaments, he quickly caught the attention of scouts thanks to a combination of power, height, and tactical maturity unusual for his age.

In 2019, at just 17 years old, Coello made his professional debut on the World Padel Tour, becoming one of the youngest participants in the history of the circuit. Despite his youth, he showed the composure and quality needed to compete with experienced professionals.

Partnership with Belastegui

The turning point in Coello’s career came in 2021, when padel legend Fernando Belastegui — a 16-time world champion — chose the young Spaniard as his partner. The decision surprised many: the most experienced player in the sport’s history had teamed up with a 19-year-old newcomer.

The partnership proved highly productive. In the 2022 season, the Coello/Belastegui pair won 4 WPT titles, including the Miami event. That victory made Coello the youngest champion in World Padel Tour history — he was just 19 at the time.

Working with Belastegui gave Coello invaluable experience:

• Tactical education — Bela passed on a deep understanding of strategy and positional play
• Mental toughness — the ability to handle pressure at the biggest tournaments
• Professionalism — an approach to training, recovery, and match preparation at the highest level

At the end of 2022, the pair announced their split, and Coello embarked on a new chapter.

Coello and Tapia

Since December 2022, Arturo Coello has been partnered with Argentine Agustin Tapia. This partnership has become one of the most successful in the modern history of padel.

The 2024 Season

The 2024 season was historic for the Coello/Tapia pair:

• 14 titles on the Premier Padel Circuit
• A 45-match winning streak — one of the records of the professional tour
• Victories in Doha, Madrid, Paris, Dubai, Acapulco, and other cities
• World number one in the FIP rankings at the end of the season

The 2025 Season

In 2025, the pair continued their dominance:

• Victories at the Qatar Major in Doha, the Buenos Aires P1, the Bordeaux P2, and other events
• Coello’s win rate stood at 87.2% (39 wins from 45 matches by May 2025)
• Confirmation of their world number-one status at the end of the season

[OUTDATED] Statistics for 2025–2026 are updated as the season progresses.

Playing Style

Coello is one of the most physically gifted players in world padel. At 190 cm tall and left-handed, he possesses a unique set of advantages on the right side of the court.

Strengths

• Powerful smash — his height and athleticism allow Coello to finish rallies with devastating overhead shots. His “por tres” smash (exiting through the back wall) is among the most dangerous on tour
• Vibora — aggressive and precise, with pronounced side spin
• Centre control — as a left-hander on the right side, Coello covers the centre of the court with his forehand, putting constant pressure on opponents
• Aerial game — dominance in the upper zone thanks to his height and jumping ability

Court Position

Coello plays on the right side (drive) — a position traditionally associated with stability and control. However, Coello brings uncharacteristic aggression to this role:

• Being left-handed gives him an advantage on shots from the centre of the court
• His tall frame ensures dominance in aerial duels
• The combination of power and accuracy makes him one of the best right-side players in history

Key Attributes

• Aggression — Coello prefers to finish rallies quickly and decisively
• Physical power — one of the most athletic players on tour
• Composure — in contrast to the emotional Tapia, Coello displays calm focus in decisive moments
• Tactical intelligence — the legacy of his time with Belastegui shows in mature positional decisions

Key Achievements

[OUTDATED] This achievements table is incomplete. For current results, visit padelfip.com.

Statistics

[OUTDATED] Rankings and statistics are updated weekly.

Gemma Triay

Gemma Triay is a Spanish professional padel player from Menorca and a five-time world champion with the Spanish national team. A former tennis player who switched to padel and reached the top of the world rankings within a few years, she is one of the most decorated players in the history of women’s padel.

Biographical Summary

From Tennis to Padel

Gemma Triay was born on 28 June 1992 in Menorca — one of the Balearic Islands. She began her sporting journey at the age of 4 with tennis and trained seriously throughout her youth, aiming for a professional career.

However, fate had other plans. An injury sustained shortly before selection for the professional tennis circuit put an end to those ambitions. In 2010, at the age of 19, a discouraged Triay left tennis behind, moved to Barcelona, and enrolled at university to study languages.

The break from sport lasted three years. In 2013, at the age of 21, her competitive spirit got the better of her, and Triay gave padel a try. Her tennis foundation — shot technique, coordination, and an understanding of ball sports — gave her an enormous advantage. Her progress was rapid: within just 4 years, she had reached the international level.

Rise to Number One

With Lucia Sainz (2016–2020)

Triay’s first major partner was Lucia Sainz. Their partnership began in 2016 and lasted five years. During that time, the pair won 12 WPT titles, and in 2020 Triay and Sainz reached first place in the World Padel Tour rankings.

Triay won her first two professional titles with Sainz in 2017. That same season, she was named the best player on the WPT circuit — an impressive achievement for someone who had taken up padel just four years earlier.

With Alejandra Salazar (2021–2022)

After splitting with Sainz at the end of 2020, Triay teamed up with Alejandra Salazar — another former world number one. Together, they held the top ranking throughout 2021 and 2022, confirming Triay’s status as the strongest left-side player in women’s padel.

With Delfina Brea (2025–present)

In January 2025, Triay began a new partnership with Argentine Delfina Brea. This pairing has become the most successful of Triay’s career to date.

Partnerships

Triay’s ability to dominate with different partners is one of the defining features of her career:

With each new partner, Triay has not merely maintained her level — she has reached new heights. Three different partners, and with each one — the number-one spot in the world.

Playing Style

Triay plays on the left side (reves) — the attacking position that requires a strong backhand and the ability to finish rallies. Her style is a blend of tactical intelligence and consistency inherited from her tennis background.

Strengths

• Tactical thinking — Triay reads the game several moves ahead. Her tennis experience shows in a deep understanding of court geometry and positional play
• Consistency — a minimal number of unforced errors. Triay can sustain long rallies, waiting for the opponent to make a mistake
• Backhand — one of the best in women’s padel. Precise and powerful, it allows her to control the centre of the court
• Overhead shots — confident aerial play, including the bandeja and smash
• Mental resilience — the ability to perform at the highest level in decisive moments

Key Attributes

• Intellectual approach — Triay prefers to win through strategy rather than brute force
• Adaptability — the ability to adjust her game to different partners and opponents
• Leadership — on court, Triay takes charge of the pair’s tactical organisation
• Win percentage — a career rate above 81% — one of the best in the history of women’s padel

Achievements

Titles with the Spanish National Team

Career Milestones

• 2013: Began playing padel
• 2017: First WPT titles, named best player on tour
• 2020: World number one (with Sainz)
• 2021–2022: Held number one (with Salazar)
• 2025: 9 titles, Major with Brea, world number one at end of season

Statistics

[OUTDATED] Rankings and statistics are updated weekly.

Impact on Padel

Triay is not only an outstanding athlete but also a public figure in the padel world:

• IPPA Vice President (International Padel Players Association) — actively involved in protecting players’ interests
• A story of second chances — her transition from tennis to padel inspires athletes who have faced career setbacks
• Promoting women’s padel — Triay’s consistent results draw attention to the women’s tour