Padel
Go inside the inner circle of Padel's biggest stars
Meet the coaches, families and friends who power Alejandro Galán, Juan Lebrón and Bea González to greatness. This is the untold story behind these padel champions.
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Padel is more than just a sport, it's a lifestyle, a community and, for its top players, a journey shaped by the people closest to them. For stars like Juan Lebrón, Alejandro Galán and Bea González, their success isn't just about raw talent or hours on the court, it's about the relationships that have molded their careers.
From coaches to family members, training partners and mentors, these inner circles reveal the untold stories behind their rise to becoming padel's biggest stars. Let's dive into the lives of these padel icons and explore the key figures who continue to help them shine.
01
Alejandro Galán: Excellence forged by relationships
Alejandro Galán isn't just a padel champion; he's already considered a legend of the sport, an absolute icon who mesmerises fans and opponents with his out-of-this world-plays. Galan's story is rooted in family and mentorship. Born in Leganés, Madrid, in 1996, his introduction to padel was almost accidental, but it quickly became his calling.
Alejandro Galán training in Madrid
© Jaime De Diego / Red Bull Content Pool
A family affair
Galán credits his sister Alba for introducing him to padel. Alba was a competitive player herself and her tournaments became family outings that sparked young Alejandro's interest. "I started playing because it was what my sister did," he recalls. Galán says his sister's success – and encouragement – has "helped me to have this small war among brother and sister. She's given me that motivation."
The picture Galán paints is one that many athletes can relate to: parents quietly sacrificing their own comfort and time to give their children a shot at something bigger.
Federico Chingotto and Alejandro Galán advance to Miami finals
© Premier Padel / Red Bull Content Pool
Family has been key. Although maybe economically they couldn't give me what other guys had, they've given everything they had for me to be here
"Family has been key," he says. "Although maybe economically they couldn’t give me what other guys could have, they've given everything they had for me to be here. My dad worked in catering and I seldom saw him. He worked night and day to pay for my trips so that we could enter tournaments. My mum lived and did everything for us.' Yet from that foundation came the resilience that drives him today. The most valuable lessons he and Alba learned from them? "Work, sacrifice and, above all, effort."
Then came a turning point – a moment when outside help joined family support and changed everything.
The mentor who changed everything
Aged 15, Galán received a life-changing scholarship from Jorge Martínez at the M3 Academy. Martínez saw potential in the young player and gave him access to world-class training facilitie - an opportunity that transformed Galán's career trajectory and solidified Martínez as one of his most influential mentors. "He bet on me, he changed me and he made me the player I am today," says Galán.
Federico Chingotto and Alejandro Galán won the Miami Premier Padel P1
© Premier Padel/Red Bull Content Pool
Even after coaching changes over the years, including Mariano Amat during his partnership with Lebrón, Martínez remains a guiding force in Galán's career decisions. "Nowadays I train at M3 Academy, which he owns. He’s always there, behind-the-scenes. He gave me the opportunity."
02
Juan Lebrón: The wolf leading a strong pack
Juan Lebrón, affectionately known as 'El Lobo' (The Wolf), is one of padel's most electrifying, spectacular and creative players. Born in Cádiz, Spain, in 1995, he made history as the first Spaniard to claim the world number one ranking in 2019. However, behind his fierce presence on the court lies an intricate and close web of relationships that have molded his figure as both a player and person.
Juan Lebrón in action at the Miami Premier Padel P1 finals
© Premier Padel/Red Bull Content Pool
A pair that made history
Lebrón’s partnership with Alejandro Galán was nothing short of legendary. Together, they dominated the sport for four years (2020–2024), winning 27 World Padel Tour titles and six Premier Padel tournaments. Their chemistry on court was unmatched, but their bond extended beyond competition.
When their alliance ended in early 2024, Lebrón reflected on the bittersweet moment: "Thank you for everything we've experienced on and off the court these four years. We started as two kids and we've accomplished all our goals," he said on a farewell post on Instagram.
The coaches who influenced him
Lebrón's game has been honed by some of padel's finest minds. Mariano Amat played a pivotal role during his peak years with Galán, while Jorge Martínez from the M3 Academy has provided long-term guidance. Looking ahead to 2025, Lebrón will team up with Franco Stupaczuk under coach Carlos Pozzoni. It's a pairing many fans are eager to see unfold and is already yielding positive results.
Juan Lebron ignited the Premier Padel 2024 Finals
© Alberto Nevado/Red Bull Content Pool
Family and sacrifice
Lebrón’s family has been his anchor throughout his career. "Padel is everything to him. Since he was a little kid he committed to it and he lives for that”, said his mother, Isabel, in an interview with La Voz de Cádiz. Yet success came at a cost. Lebrón admits: "I haven't seen my friends in ages, some for over a year. Training, traveling, commitments... it takes everything," he said on the TV Show El Chiringuito de Jugones when he became world number one in 2019.
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03
Bea González: The young star with big support
Beatriz González, or Bea as fans know her, is one of padel’s brightest talents. Hailing from Málaga and born in 2001, she entered the professional scene at an astonishingly young age and has continued to impress ever since. González’s explosive, attacking style and incredible athleticism are what make her stand out among the world's best.
Beatriz González celebrates Santiago Premier Padel P1 success
© Premier Padel/Red Bull Content Pool
Early beginnings
González's love for padel started when she watched her father play with friends at local courts. "I stayed to watch my dad play with his friends and I would join them," she says. By age four, she was already swinging a racket herself and it didn't take long for her natural talent to show.
Beatriz González and Claudia Fernandez triumph at Miami Padel P1
© Premier Padel / Red Bull Content Pool
I stayed to watch my dad play with his friends and I would join them
Her father played a key role in nurturing her passion for the sport during her formative years. By age 14, González became the youngest player ever to reach a World Padel Tour final, a feat that set her apart from her peers.
Inspirational team-mates
Throughout her career, González has partnered with some of padel's top players, each contributing to her growth as an athlete. The first was Paula Eyheraguibel, a legend of the sport who didn't hesitate to team up with González when she was just 14 and making her debut as a professional.
"She's the one who gave me that head start and impulse," she says. "At 14, I had no idea about how a professional behaves and she taught me that."
In 2018, a teenage González was paired with veteran Cata Tenorio, who had been world number one. It was a game-changing moment as Tenorio’s experience and leadership gave her the tools to navigate the pro circuit, something you just can't learn alone. That early mentoring shaped her competitive mindset. "She was a number one and taught me many things not just on court, but off the court as well," says González.
Now partnering with young phenom Claudia Fernández, ranked fourth in the world at just 19-years-old, González can be the team leader and role model that Fernández needs to keep flourishing. The similarities in both players' careers and paths to success allow González, now 24, to become a veteran presence for her team-mate.
Beatriz González and Claudia Fernandez triumph at Miami Padel P1
© Premier Padel / Red Bull Content Pool
The careers of Lebrón, Galán and González demonstrate that success in professional padel extends far beyond individual talent. These players have thrived by surrounding themselves with coaches who understand their unique strengths, family members who provide emotional support and partners who complement their playing styles.
Padel may be one of the fastest-rising sports globally, but its heart remains rooted in personal connections like these. For Galán, Lebrón and González, those connections are not just part of their story, they are their story.
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