Milan, November 29 – It will be the last, and for that unforgettable. The Milano P1, the last event of the Premier Padel circuit season, will be ‘The Last Dance’ of Fernando Belasteguin, one of the greatest padel players of all time. And the Allianz Cloud, of course, is preparing to bid him farewell as a legend deserves, capable of remaining at the top of the world rankings for 16 years and being one of the most successful sportsmen ever. At 45 years of age, Bela is writing the closing pages of his incredible story, which with a ‘pala’ in hand will come to a close in Barcelona during the Premier Padel Finals, when Spain has also prepared an event dedicated to him.
But the fans in Milan also wants to enjoy the last Belasteguin, something that was only half possible in 2023, when an elbow problem forced him to retire before the round of 16. Right in the press room of the Allianz Cloud, the Argentine announced that 2024 would be his last year as a professional, and now that the year is ending the tears are starting to fall. Even FIP president Luigi Carraro, during the tournament presentation press conference, wanted to celebrate Bela, to whom a tribute will be dedicated similar to the one Milan reserved a year ago for Juan Martin Diaz, another legend who also paired with Belasteguin and wrote pages of padel history. ‘Un Belasteguin nunca se rinde’, the phrase Fernando also wanted engraved on the strap of his racket. ‘A Belasteguin never gives up’. And even in Milan, paired with an Argentinean from NextGen and fresh world champion Tino Libaak, Bela will not give up. Only then will it be time for farewells.