Ale Galan: “I’m ready to make my mark in this World Cup, here is where I want to be to have the chance to lift that trophy”

Every kid who loves sports dreams of winning a World Cup. And even if your name is Ale Galan, you’ve basically won everything and been world number one, that kid is still somewhere inside that perfect padel machine that is the Spaniard: “Yes, I had those dreams, and I think I’ve even surpassed them – says Galan – winning the World Cup with my national team and becoming world number one.”

But the excitement of that kid in him is still the same: “Of course, every day I wake up with the same desire to improve and reach new goals”. And there’s a huge one he’s going to try to achieve now: the FIP World Cup Pairs. “This World Cup is one of those milestones that really excites me, and I have a lot of desire and a strong wish to win it”. A “strong wish” even though he has won dozens of trophies in his career: “At this point in the season, besides the obvious importance of winning and being world champion, this tournament represents hope for FIP Ranking points and for the journey we’re on this year with ‘Chingo’”. Beyond the points and the title, there’s also a big motivation: “To become the first world champion in this new format would be something unique”.

Galan also says the pressure of a World Cup is different: “Yes, I feel that pressure and extra motivation because the title means a lot, and as I said, there are also important points at stake. It’s not just an isolated tournament; it’s part of a very important season, and you have to weigh everything carefully”. When you’re used to winning, have been world number one for a long time, and are still among the top players today, the hardest opponent is yourself. Big goals like a World Cup help keep your focus high. And paradoxically, it’s those ahead of you who become your best allies: “When I was number one, the challenge was maintaining consistency and continuing to improve. Today we are ‘forced’ to do it because the current number ones (Coello and Tapia) push us to be better every day. That makes you work with a different kind of ambition, trying to break barriers and surpass yourself. I believe I still have a lot of room to grow – Galan concludes – I can improve a lot, and the key is to stay focused on yourself. That’s where real motivation comes from”.