Padel is a niche sport and to make a mark in it at the global level is no mean task.
Marina Guinart, all 1.78 metres of Catalan poise, is exactly that.
In a sport obsessed with rhythm and geometry, a left-hander can be a delightful disruptor. She steps onto court with the easy grace of someone who knows her angles, yet carries the quiet hunger of a player still writing her story.
Padel, like tennis before it, has its share of stars who rely on power or flair alone. The 29-year-old Guinart is different.
Her game is built on thoughtful construction — heavy forehands from the middle, those tricky cross-court smashes that seem to bend away just when you think you’ve read them. Being a lefty gives her a natural edge, but it’s her ability to use that edge without becoming predictable that makes her stand out.
This season, she’s brought that energy to India, joining the Game Changers Lions in the third season of the World Padel League. “It’s been a different kind of challenge — new partners, new opponents, and the need to adapt in quick, high-pressure matches. Timeout strategy helped, and the coach and team came up with a good strategy. It helped us reset at a crucial juncture,” said Marina after winning her first set. “Lions are an amazing team with high energy and good vibes. So happy to be a part of this set-up.”
The Spaniard is excited to be in India for the World Padel League 2025.
"It's really exciting to see a new country get into padel. Really happy to be here," she added.
The last 18 months have been a statement for the Castellar del Valles-born player, who started playing the sport since June 2020. Semifinals at the BNL Italy Major. A title at the FIP Silver Vila Real de Santo António. Deep runs in Málaga, Valladolid, Buenos Aires — each one adding weight to her growing reputation. And now, with the Lions, she’s learning how to sharpen her instincts for the lightning-quick momentum swings that team padel demands.
"The highlight my career for now has been making it into the semifinals in the Major in Rome this year," Guinart revealed.
For a left-hander on the right side, the middle of the court becomes a battlefield. Opponents dread the relentless forehand presence there; partners relish the comfort it provides. Guinart thrives in that space, her positioning as much a psychological weapon as a tactical one.
She is still evolving — building more confidence in her net play, learning when to attack early, and when to grind out the long rallies. The “finished product” tag doesn’t apply yet, and that’s the exciting part. Because the player we see now is just the foundation for the one she’s becoming.
Talking about her ambition going ahead, Guinart puts it out there.
" I am looking forward to get into the masters final," she added.
