Interview with Tonet Sans
Antón Sans Riola, better known as Tonet Sans, is one of the most prominent players in the world of padel in Catalonia and Spain. With a competitive playing style and a winning mindset, Sans has reached the number 1 position on the Catalan circuit multiple times, establishing himself as one of the leading figures in padel in the region.
It is an honor for us to have had the opportunity to interview him at Arsenal de Barcelona. In this interview, Tonet discusses his career, shares his perspective on the sport, and recounts some memorable stories from his journey, including his experience with Padelgest courts.
You are currently one of the most recognized professional padel players, and for many, you are considered the No. 1 in padel in Catalonia. Is it difficult to always maintain that level? How do you handle the pressure?
Well, maintaining your level is the hardest part for us professional athletes. The demands are always high, and our daily routine is focused on training with the goal of keeping our bodies at 100% so we can give our best in competition.
As great athletes have said in the past, pressure is a privilege. An athlete who feels pressure means they have the responsibility to win or have achieved great results in the past, and therefore their goal is to maintain that standard. So, it is a great privilege I hope I’ll always have.
From what I understand, you started playing padel at the age of 11. What motivated you to take up this sport?
I started playing padel at 11, encouraged by my father. He’s the one to blame (he laughs fondly). He played almost every weekend, and I would go with him. Like most kids, I was hyperactive, very stubborn, and restless, so one day I decided to give it a try. And here I am still playing.
At What point did you realize it was time to go professional?
When I finished the under-18 stage, I probably would have liked to dedicate myself solely to professional padel, but I decided to go to university, where I studied for four years. After graduating, with my studies completed, I wanted to give it a shot, encouraged by colleagues who had already ventured into professional padel and were doing well. I took the leap, and here I am, seven years active on the professional circuit. I can say that I’m very happy with how things have turned out, and I hope to continue for many more years at the highest level.
After playing over 300 matches as a professional, you must have experienced a lot — some things very positive, others less so. What is your overall balance?
The overall balance is definitely positive. Every experience adds value, not just on the court but off it too: running through airports, missing flights, visiting countries you’ve never been to, and so on. A huge number of experiences and stories that accumulate and leave you with great memories when you look back on them.
If you could go back, would you like to change any step?
Honestly, no, 100% of the things I’ve done, I would do them the same way again. If I had to mention one thing, it would be that I would have liked to go to Madrid to train, which is now considered the world capital of padel. But I’m very attached to home, so I’ve always prioritized staying here.
After so many years on the courts, you must have gathered a lot of stories. Is there a funny one you can share?
I’m not sure if I’d call it funny, but once, in 2022, we went to play in Egypt and spent more time traveling from the airport to the hotel than on the flight itself. It rains only twice a year there, and we happened to be there on a historic rainy day: The road was completely flooded with about a meter of water, making it incredibly difficult to get around. It wasn’t fun at the time, but it’s definitely a story we’ll always remember and one to tell.
What do you think are your strengths on the court?
I’d say my strongest points are all my attacking shots and forehand transitions. I also think one of my strengths is my consistency and physical conditioning: tiring out my opponent physically, running up and down the court without giving up on any ball. Combining that with my forehand skills allows me to push my opponents to their limit.
And, if you don’t mind me asking, what do you consider to be your weaknesses on the court?
My weaknesses are always on the same side, mostly in terms of concentration, which is what lets you compete at a high level consistently. Loss of concentration is something I’ve worked on a lot, but I have to say that age and experience help greatly with this. Apart from that, my backhand side, especially from the baseline, could be considered a weakness, although I’ve been improving it over the years.
Regarding external factors, it’s clear that many elements influence the game, but how important would you say the court is? I mean, the playing surface.
The playing surface is crucial. A professional needs to play in the best conditions, and padel is only fair when the court is in good shape. Players need to be able to perform freely without obstacles to ensure that conditions are equal for everyone.
In this regard, what do you think of Padelgest padel courts?
They’re well-established courts in professional padel, having served as official courts for major circuits and earning recognition from professionals. They’re meticulous with details and always offer premium quality, which explains the reputation they have today.
Nowadays, padel is experiencing significant growth. What do you think of how the sector is evolving?
It’s a sport that is no longer just a trend; it’s seeing tremendous growth worldwide. Sometimes I feel like everything is moving very fast, but it’s on its way to becoming a consolidated professional sport. For me, other players, and fans of padel, it’s great news that it’s a sport with an ever-growing following and recognition.
Finally, from a personal perspective, how do you see the season, and how do you approach the remaining matches?
This season, to be honest, hasn’t been one of my best, especially compared to the last four. I’ve had results below my average, and that always makes it hard to be fully satisfied.
Still, a few weeks ago, we had a moment of joy. We achieved one of our goals for the year, which was to defend our title of Catalonia Champions, marking our fourth consecutive win. This gave us the motivation to keep pushing until the end and try to turn around the less-than-ideal situation we’re in this year.
I hope this has been enjoyable for the readers. Many thanks to the team at Padelgest for their support and for spending an afternoon of padel with me at such a special club as Arsenal Barcelona.
Thank you very much for your time, Tonet. It’s been a pleasure to chat with you and gain your perspective on a sport we love as much as padel. We wish you the best of luck, not only for the rest of the season but in all your future projects. We’ll be following your journey closely!
