Between television presenters like Cyril Hanouna, influencers and other former Paris Saint-Germain players gathered in Montreuil, in the Paris suburbs, for a promotional event, the 28-year-old Andalusian goes rather unnoticed in the corridors of 4Padel, brand new hall dedicated to this sport.

On a gloomy morning in the first week of February, the Spaniard put his pre-season preparation on hold until he reached the French capital, a distinguished guest in the promotional tournament organized by Babolat, which sponsors his racquets.

"I escaped for a few hours to be with you," said Juan "El Lobo" Lebrón before giving an interview to AFP.

King of the world since 2019

This breakaway is a short departure from the strict discipline that Juan Lebrón imposes on himself in his training and which allowed the native of El Puerto de Santa María, in the province of Cadiz (southwest of the country), to climb to the rank of world number 1 since 2019, first in tandem with Paquito Navarro then with Alejandro Galán, his new partner since 2020.

"I train almost five hours a day: an hour and a half of padel in the morning, an hour and a half of physical exercise then an hour and a half on the track (the name that designates the court on which padel is played, Editor's note) for the technique and the game situations", he explains.

“Then there is invisible training: physio, recovery, nutrition and psychology,” he adds.

"Born" for padel, he began to practice this discipline of South American origin from the age of seven.

A real phenomenon in Spain - with its four million practitioners - the sport has also spread to Sweden, Portugal and France, where, according to the French Tennis Federation (FFT) which manages padel, the number of tracks has multiplied by more than four in three years, from 300 in 2020 to 1,300 today.

This boom, "El Lobo" experienced it live, winning last summer with his partner Galán the first edition of the Greenweez Paris Premier Padel Major, organized at Roland-Garros.

"The change has been impressive, it's an unstoppable phenomenon. Before, we were playing against walls and I can't imagine where we will be in ten years. We used to play on dirt and now we play at Foro Italico in Rome or at Roland-Garros", he underlines.

Domination without sharing

How do Lebrón and Galán manage to stay at the top of their sport?

“The most important thing, replies the Andalusian, is to tackle with humility what we need to improve. The ego, whether it is going well or badly, must be left out of the way. "

Padel fans, more and more numerous, complain about the monopoly exercised by Lebrón-Galán and which leaves little room for competition.

"I understand people who want more diversity, but I'm not going to lose on purpose. Their complaints leave me quite indifferent", replies "El Lobo".

Inside the 4Padel Montreuil, Lebrón is getting impatient.

The photographers ask him to throw the balls and smile.

“Like a juggler?” he replies, reluctant to strike a pose.

The world number 1 in padel, the Spaniard Juan Lebron, in Montreuil, in the Paris suburbs, on February 2, 2023 © STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP/Archives

The player has sometimes been singled out for his angry and eruptive character.

"Little by little, I'm improving, it's part of my journey," he says.

- Flamenco to escape-

Apart from padel, Lebrón also feeds on music.

"Before and after training I listen to it. When I go to bed, I am always in contact with music, it is one of my pillars for disconnecting, escaping and refocusing on myself and my loved ones".

Her favorite style is flamenco, practiced by her sister.

"It's family, I have a lot of friends who sing and dance, it's a pleasure to see it live," he explains.

And his nickname?

It comes from a commentator inspired by his gestures, he replies.

“An arcing movement that I make when I gain momentum,” continues El Lobo.

"He said it looked like the jawbone of a wolf sticking out against the light on a full moon and it stuck."

© 2023 AFP