Although the courts were in use for months, the visit of Diaz has undoubtedly is a way to give visibility to this sport that is gradually opening borders.
The Argentine player was accompanied by his compatriot Bebe Auguste, together they shared courts with fans of the sport and played an exhibition match with Qatari player Abdulaziz al-Kuwari.
Bebe Auguste and Juan Martín Diaz are the first two players of the World Padel Tour (WPT) to play in Qatar but the intention of this sport is to continue growing and establish the Qatari Padel Federation and be able to host a WPT event.
Padel Qatar launched the first two courts last summer and given the good acceptance of the local public to this sport, 60% of the players are Qataris, two more courts are now available in Al Arabi Sports Club and the installation of three more courts in the next two months is planned, one of them, exclusively for women.
As Juan Martín points out ‘the locals are the ones who are going to promote this sport’.
Juan Martin Diaz returns this year to the courts of the World Padel Tour after Healing From an injury and will play as a couple with the Paquito Navarro from Seville (Spain), “a great mate” and hopes to Perform Big With him.
Facing the WPT 2018 the Argentinian player admits that he is doing everything possible, training and taking care to reach the best conditions and “hopefully we have a good year, I will give everything to finish in the best possible position,” he said.
Diaz and Auguste, two padel legends
Juan Martin Diaz has been Number One during 13 years and won 170 finals from 191 in which he participated. He won 4 World Championships, 2 European Championships, 6 Spanish Championships, 3 Teams Spanish Championships and 2 Mix Spanish Championships amongst others.
Bebe Auguste won more than 100 professional padel tournaments since 1991 in Argentina, Spain, Brazil, Mexico, Paraguay and France and he has been world champion 8 times. Actually, works for World Padel Tour as an International Expansion Director.