If your padel obsession is getting serious, you need to head to Spain. Not only can you work up a sweat on court at some of the finest clubs in the world, you can get a tan, sip a Sangria (if your training regime allows it) have a dip in the Mediterranean while you’re there.
In the third instalment of his series looking at Spain’s padel hotspots (read parts one and two later), our expert Joaquim Serna Sanchez checks out some elite venues where the world’s best go to get even better.
Bela Padel Center (the GB squad’s training base)
Named after Fernando Belasteguín, the best player in the history of No.1 on the World Padel Tour for 16 years in a row, the Alicante club is in a perfect location that combines Mediterranean culture with the growing passion for padel.
Opened in 2021 by the Argentine legend, the Bela Padel Center is located in the city of San Juan, known for its spectacular seven-kilometre long beach and fine white sand. It has 13 courts: seven outdoor, five indoor and two singles, as well as offices and a restaurant with a large terrace and views of the playing areas.
It is indeed in these facilities where the best UK players train, such as Nikhil Mohindra, Aimee Gibson and Sam Jones, who are at the top of the LTA rankings. Aimee and Sam attended a training camp during the first weeks of June to prepare, among others, for the LTA Grade 1 tournament held in Stratford and the FIP Rise in Italy.
The club is open every day of the week and has qualified coaches such as Nico Mercado and Miguel Sciorilli. The latter has been on the bench of five world number ones and leads, along with Belasteguin, the methodology that all the trainers at the club apply in their training sessions.
The centre also has classes for players of all stages and levels, from children to adults and from beginners to experts. In addition, it is an ideal option to go with several partners and hire lesson vouchers, or with the family to sign the children up for different summer camps.
If you want to combine training and competition, the centre organises numerous tournaments at different levels, from second division (semi-professionals) to fifth division (amateur players). These competitions are called Open Bela Cupra Cups, and have starter packs consisting of padel equipment and prizes if you reach the final rounds.
If you finish a demanding day on court and decide not to touch your racket until the next day, you can enjoy a visit to the Castle of Santa Bárbara while the sun goes down, sip a good cocktail in the wide port of the city or take an excursion to the wonderful Tabarca Island, the only inhabited island in the whole of the Valencian Community.
On a gastronomic level, you can’t miss the opportunity to have a beer served with fried almonds as an aperitif, together with the local seafood, where the red prawns are outstanding. As a main dish, don’t hesitate to order any paella from local restaurants, where the arroz al senyoret (rice in the gentleman style) stands out. It is so called because it comes with all the seafood without skins or shells, as a gentleman does not stain his hands while eating.
For dessert, don’t leave the southern part of the Valencian Community without trying buñuelos or turrón de Jijona, although you may find it a little trickier bending down to rescue a good off the wall smash the following day!
Padel Nuestro (the refuge of Christian Medina Murphy!)
Just 50 kilometres by car from Alicante, you will find the Padel Nuestro club, which takes the name of one of the most important padel product companies in the world, as it has more than 40 shops at a national and international level.
These facilities of more than 4,500 square metres have 11 outdoor courts plus a central one with extra stands, as well as a specialised shop, physiotherapy service and a restaurant with a large terrace that only closes its doors when the club does.
It is in the Murcian capital where the number one in the LTA ranking, Christian Medina Murphy, currently resides. He also uses this club to earn some extra money by giving classes to children when the whirlwind of tournaments allows him.
Padel Nuestro also has a nutrition clinic, organises amateur and semi-professional tournaments every few weeks and offers you the chance to take lessons and increase your level on the court.
It is also the place where clinics related to the world of padel are held, both for players (tactics, tips and classes given by professional coaches and players) and for entrepreneurs (how to start a business in the world of padel or work on mental aspects that are key to run a business, among other topics).
Once you have finished your training or match in this club surrounded by gardens and citrus fruits, you can’t miss the opportunity to lose yourself in the streets of the old town of Murcia and visit its cathedral, the Romea Theatre, and admire its luxurious casino.
To beat the heat, there’s nothing better than Estrella Levante beer with a pastel de carne (meat pie), and if you’ve suffered too much from your rival’s vipers, try the zarangollo and the spectacular marineras. My final recommendation is the paparajotes and monas, which will change definitely end your day on a good note.
