In the world of padel, Fernando Belasteguin, also known as “Bela,” is a name that is generally associated with excellence. His remarkable journey from a little child in Argentina to the top spot in the world padel rankings for an astounding 16 years running is nothing short of legendary. Bela’s career is evidence of his unwavering commitment, unmatched talent, and unbreakable spirit, which gave him the feeling that he was, in his own words, “indestructible” for a number of years.
at 1995, Belasteguin made his professional debut at Mar del Plata, which marked the beginning of his ascent to fame. It was evident right away that Bela was a formidable opponent. Together, he and Juan Martin Diaz established records that are still being broken and dominated padel courts, making them one of the sport’s most powerful teams. Together, they created a legacy that would motivate upcoming generations and won multiple titles.
Speaking about his final years on tour, Bela acknowledged that he had gone from feeling unbreakable to having injury struggles.
He said:
“I was always competitive practically until I was 42 or 43 years old. In recent years, something else has been noticed, I didn’t feel completely well and I have been a bit more fragile because I have pushed myself to be at the level of the youngsters and nature doesn’t forgive you. Injuries are a huge blow on a mental level, I felt fragile, and that was reflected in my game.
Maybe being away from my family for so long, exposed in this world of padel, has made me a bit colder because I tried to be more immune to everything. Now I’m like a sand castle, and if my family is not well, I get scared. ”