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Franco Hernán Stupaczuk, nicknamed "Stupa," is an Argentine professional padel player born on 25 March 1996 in Chaco, Argentina. Currently ranked 4th in the WPT padel rankings , he forms a renowned doubles partnership with Martín Di Nenno, and together they are known as "Los Superpibes." The Argentine duo is considered one of the best padel pairs in the world in 2023, just behind Agustín Tapia and Arturo Coello.
Let's dive into the impressive journey of Franco Stupaczuk, one of the best Argentine players on the circuit.
Franco Stupaczuk's journey in padel
His beginnings in padel
Franco Stupaczuk, nicknamed "Stupa," began his padel career at a very young age by winning the Argentine under-12 padel championship at just 8 years old. His early start in the sport led him to become number 1 in the Argentine Association at the age of 16. It was then that he made his debut on the prestigious World Padel Tour.
At the start of his career on the professional circuit in 2016, Stupa formed a promising partnership with Marcello Jardim, achieving good results. However, the major turning point in his career came when he joined forces with Martín Di Nenno, creating the famous pair "Los Superpibes."
In 2017, Stupa briefly played alongside Cristián Gutiérrez, reaching their first final by beating Miguel Lamperti and Juani Mieres. They won the Mijas Open and the Gran Canaria tournament, but their winning streak came to an end in Alicante, where they were eliminated in the first tour.
His development and succession of partners
In 2018, Stupa and Cristian Gutierrez had an exceptional season, winning the Granada Open and beating the world number ones at the time, Maxi Sanchez and Sanyo Gutierrez. They met again in the final of the Andorra Open, but this time victory went to their opponents.
Afterwards, the two players chose to continue their journey with other partners. In 2019, Stupa played alongside Maxi Sanchez, with whom he won the Cordoba Open. In 2020, he teamed up with Sanyo Gutierrez, confirming their status as serious contenders for the world number one spot, although they were unable to compete with the Galan/Lebron pair, who dominated the scene that year. Nevertheless, Stupa and Gutierrez managed to win the Menorca tournament.
For the 2021 season, Stupa announced that Alex Ruiz would be his new partner, winning 2 tournaments before they split in April 2022.
He then teamed up with Pablo Lima, with whom he won the Toulouse Open, as well as two Premier Padel tournaments in Mendoza and Giza. However, this partnership was short-lived. In 2023, the Argentine reformed his original partnership with his friend Martin Di Nenno.
It is interesting to note that Stupa rarely played two consecutive seasons with the same partner, demonstrating great adaptability. His decision to reunite with Di Nenno, with whom he shared a deep friendship, is the result of their shared history and connection, strengthened by personal events, such as Di Nenno's road accident, which had temporarily separated them.
Franco Stupaczuk's playing style
Stupa embodies a dynamic and versatile playing style that sets him apart on court. Several elements define his game.
Playing characteristics
First of all, his exceptional mobility is a key characteristic. Stupa can stretch or shorten the padel court as needed, allowing him to adapt quickly to different game situations. His ability to move quickly and strategically around the court gives him an undeniable advantage.
Regarding his technical skills, Stupa is a player with a wide range of shots in his repertoire. He excels in moving up to the net on his side, which allows him to stand out in both attack and defence. His finishing shots are remarkable, enabling him to score crucial points during rallies.
Franco Stupaczuk: an excellent teammate on court
One aspect of his playing style lies in his ability to work closely with his partner. As a member of the "Los Superpibes," pair alongside Martin Di Nenno, Stupa has demonstrated his ability to add intensity to the game while creating opportunities for his partner. This willingness to adapt to his partner's playing style and complement him is a valuable characteristic of his game.
FAQ dedicated to Franco Stupaczuk
Which partner does Franco Stupaczuk play with as a duo?
Franco Stupaczuk forms a duo with his compatriot Martin Di Nenno. Their history in the world of padel dates back to their youth, but in 2016, a tragic event forced Di Nenno to put his career on hold due to a serious car accident. Despite this separation, their friendship remained strong, reinforced by the fact that Stupa lived with Martin's family in Buenos Aires for two years.
Their reunion on court seemed inevitable and, in 2023, at the respective ages of 25 and 26, Stupaczuk and Di Nenno decided to reform this legendary pair. Fans had high expectations for this duo, and "Los Superpibes" did not disappoint them. Indeed, in 2023, they won 5 tournaments while contesting 10 finals, thus illustrating their impressive potential on court.
What other sports does Franco Stupaczuk play?
Franco Stupaczuk played several other sports before dedicating himself to padel. He notably played football, volleyball and handball. However, he admits that at one point in his life, he preferred football to padel. His family ultimately guided him towards the world of padel, where he has enjoyed great success.
Which racket does Franco Stupaczuk use?
Franco Stupaczuk uses a high-end padel racket, the Siux Electra ST3 Pro, which is specially designed for advanced and professional players. This racket offers a balance between power for smashes and control for defence against opponents' balls.
The Electra ST3 Pro is appreciated for its elegant design, but above all for its cutting-edge technical features. The racket has a 15K carbon frame, giving it both great strength and powerful shot precision. The teardrop shape promotes a medium balance, combining power and control.
The racket's Hard Eva foam contributes to its power by providing very good force return as well as excellent explosiveness.
The Siux Electra ST3 Pro is also equipped with certain technologies to improve playing comfort, such as a spiral grip for better handling and anti-vibration devices in partnership with Shock Out to absorb vibrations.
