The Joy of Padel podcast with Daniel Windahl

Daniel Windahl is the number 1 Swedish padel player, currently ranked 53rd in the world. A left-sided player, he partners with Jose Solano. We discuss his remarkable personal and professional journey to becoming the highest ranked Scandinavian padel player, and the second highest ranked player who isn’t Spanish, Argentinian or Brazilian. We talk about how he has faced off against the world’s top players, such as Ale Galan and Juan Lebron, his favourite shot and areas of improvement, as well as the life lessons that padel has brought him, in particular in dealing with mental health.

To find out more about Daniel Windahl:

• Find or follow on Instagram: @dannewindahl
• Check out this highlight point, a super rally and a fine winner from Daniel (via Twitter).
• Check out a recent and hotly contested match in Riyadh between Danne/Jose versus Ale Galan and Juan Lebron

To listen to the show:

To listen to The Joy of Padel podcast, you can use the embedded player above, or go find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or any number of other podcasting services listed here.

Send in your questions or reactions:

Please send me your questions — as an audio file if you’d like — to nminterdial@gmail.com. Otherwise, below, you’ll find the show notes and, of course, you are invited to comment. If you liked the podcast, please take a moment to review and/or rate it! ¡VAMOS!

Further resources for The Joy of Padel:

The Joy of Padel podcast is brought to you in association with Padel1969, who are proud to create one of the best padel product and service offerings in the world. Padel1969 believes in passion, joy, and integrity. We respect the DNA and roots of Padel – from Acapulco since 1969. To check all their full offer in padel courts, equipment and savoir faire, please go visit the Padel1969 site.

Meanwhile, you can find Minter’s other Evergreen podcasts, entitled The Minter Dialogue Show (in English and French) in this podcast tab, on Megaphone or via Apple Podcasts.

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

padel, playing, tournaments, court, tennis, player, Danne, danne, partner, swedish, win, putting, sweden, day, couples, shot, match, joy, thinking, talk, years, danne windahl, Daniel windahl

SPEAKERS

Daniel Windahl, Minter Dial

Minter Dial  00:11

Hola chicas y chicos. So, many thanks for joining me on the Joy of Padel podcast, spreading and sharing the supreme delight of this wonderful and fast-growing game. I’m your host Minter Dial, and this podcast is brought to you by Padel1969, the largest manufacturer of premium padel courts. One Court for Life by Padel1969. The Joy of Padel is part of the Evergreen Podcast Network. For more information about this network, please go check out their site, Evergreenpodcasts.com.

So, this is the second season for the Joy of Padel. And, as with last season, we’ll be running an episode once every fortnight. Please let us know what you think about the show by putting up a rating and a review.

And a very warm welcome for the fifth episode of the second season of the joy of padel podcast. So, this episode is with Danne Windahl. Danne is the number one Swedish padel player currently ranked 53rd in the world, a left sided player, he partners with Jose Solano. We discuss Danne’s remarkable personal and professional journey to becoming the highest ranked Scandinavian padel pair and the second highest ranked player who isn’t Spanish, Argentinian or Brazilian. We talk about how he is faced off against the world’s top players such as Alexandria and when Lebrón his favorite shot and areas of improvement as well as the life lessons that padel has brought to him. In particular in dealing with mental health. Please enjoy the lesson and share and subscribe to send out more joy of padel to the world. Farmers. Danne Daniel window wow, I am so excited to have you on my show. You are certainly the highest ranked Scandinavian player that I’m aware of. You have been your followed by many, especially all over Scandinavia. I’ve seen some of your great exploits maybe getting down but against the best. It’s really impressive. Danne in your own words, who are you?

Daniel Windahl  02:18

Well, I I’m a very normal guy actually, I came from tennis the tennis world and adapt to the Palawan really quickly. But besides pal, I’m a very calm person that likes to watch football and especially Premier League in darts. And yeah, I’m a fan of tennis as well on watching.

Minter Dial  02:44

So, who do you follow in the Premier League?

Daniel Windahl  02:49

Football? I’m a big fan of Manchester United.

Minter Dial  02:55

Right. Yeah. We’ll have to settle that one off the court, Danne. Yeah. And from another one and what about darts?

Daniel Windahl  03:06

Yeah, I’m following that pretty much. And my favorite is Raymond van Barneveld.

Minter Dial  03:14

Well, that’s unexpected stuff. So, that’s brilliant. So, let’s start by Danne talking about how you got the padel. I mean, so I know it’s a little bit of a regular question, but it’s always interesting to find that passage into padeling. Why the padel?

Daniel Windahl  03:27

Well, for my part, it had been pretty chaotic. When I when the when the was the one moment that I choose pedal. I will try it was my first try was when I was 17. Just for fun just for playing just to have something to do besides tennis. And yeah, and my eyes grow for the sport. And when I was turning 20 When I’ve been through three years of depression and a lot of bad habits in my tennis career, I just switch. And when I had my darkest period in tennis, I had I had like one to three months after I was putting the tennis career on, on stop where I was actually playing padel Monday to Friday. Instead of playing tennis five to six hours a day I pay. I played five to six-hour padel at A and this this period of my time I was very happy. I’m still happy but that was the first time in three years that I really enjoyed life and I was having a laugh and I was like enjoying the moment. So, from that point on I seek up more knowledge about the sport, and I started off as a coach actually. So, on that path, it was good.

Minter Dial  05:14

Well, I’m sorry to hear about those dark days. But delighted that padel was the light at the end of the darkness. I want to just go back quickly to the portion where 10 years. So, 10 years ago, you discovered padel while you were playing tennis. Was that because you were at a facility that had padel on the side? Because a lot of the Spaniards Yeah. Will maybe go young or on playing tennis and then padel is the fun thing on the end of the day like going for a swim?

Daniel Windahl  05:47

Yeah, yeah. From my part I live in I left. I was in a very small town called boss that and boasted had the one of the first courts ever in Sweden. And it’s very known for the tennis and the tournaments and the big house of the summer tournaments in Boston. So, that’s why I just tried it once or twice that summer, and yeah….

Minter Dial  06:22

There you go. So, what about this decision to play padel as your fun, as opposed to tennis. Because I mean, at the end of the day, both of them are good workouts. You’ve got a racket; you’ve got a ball that looks similar. Why is it that padel gave you that light?

Daniel Windahl  06:43

I mean, that in that moment, I found padel and started off to play a lot more. For me, it was a lifeline, for sure. Because I was in so deep in that darkness that I was standing on the train station and yeah, want to move on. And this was the first thing that brought light into my mind, besides my family, my girlfriend that I like really want to know more about. So, it was curiosity. And I just love the way people work. And there were so open it was like regular people. And in the beginning, I was playing like six o’clock in the morning with three guys who was turning 55 or 60. And if you’re like looking from the perspective of the outside, that wouldn’t have happened in in the in the tennis carry in my tennis life. And, and those three people I would think about now. And those are great friends, even today, and I still having a laugh about that time and we’re having a good time. So, even Yeah, I just played for fun. And now it’s becoming like a lifestyle and, and it has been Yeah, I’ve been learning so much about padel and learning so much about people and I have been getting to know a lot of people, which is really fun as well.

Minter Dial  08:28

I love that journey and the fact that you’re still in touch with those oldsters, like guys like me. That’s brilliant. So, your route into padel was is definitely a different style of route, although you did come from tennis. And you got to this point of playing more. At what point did you go pro?

Daniel Windahl  08:53

I don’t know. Because I was a coach for maybe one a half, two years. So, when I was turning 23-24 That was the moment I felt like, Okay, I’m practicing to become a better player. And I’m like not having that, that amount on the court as a coach. So, until 23-24, I was like putting in the effort with the fitness with the scheduling with the tournament and the traveling. So, I will say since then, actually. And I still have the videos of me going on my first pallet trip to Marbella. And when I see those pictures and videos, I can’t believe that is the same person receiving it today. I was so shit…

Minter Dial  09:51

well, you know, as you know, sometimes it’s like you’re listening to your own voice. It’s hard to do. And anyway Chris, I’m a six-year-old and To share I will sometimes think, Oh, I really got that shot ahead some grace shot but when I see footage of the same thing, it is nothing like what I have in my mind of me. So, well…

Daniel Windahl  10:13

It was no, no, no worries, but I have a funny memory in my mind. It’s my first time. Well, I was going to Marbella. And I was invited to play, like a Sweden versus Spain tournament for like beginners. And I was playing the janitor, who was 60 years old and his friend that was maybe 50-55. And I was going there as 23-years-old. really fit. I was a strong tennis player. Yeah, and I lost. And, and it took a turn in my head. I was not expecting.

Minter Dial  10:58

I could just imagine. Do you remember which turn which club, you’re playing in no matter what. Yeah. No,

Daniel Windahl  11:05

It was this club? Not whatever. I’ll come tomorrow. Yeah. You have? Yeah, there was the it was the old one. Yeah, well, that

Minter Dial  11:14

was the one I grew up on. Imagine that I learned I started playing padel in 1974, with that racket behind me at my bear club. And then Nueva Alcantara. With Luisito Nieto and Nacho and that gang. I totally know at the new the new gang is much more Swedish. I should say. Yeah. Yeah, very different than the NAC of the old days. Alright, well, that’s brilliant. And, and you turn pro. And then you have to get into the system. Because if you’re not living in Spain, or getting the tournament arises, the easy access to points. How did you approach that? Did you need to get sponsoring? What was your approach? Yeah.

Daniel Windahl  11:54

My first thing was to get a sponsor obviously, to afford to go to Madrid to Barcelona to YES to feel the what the players that are, like professional are doing. So, I, I remember, my first professional journey was when I was playing my first world political tournament. And I got there one or half week before and I get to see Baylor practice, I get to see a lot of players practice and, and I saw what they’re doing on the gym, I saw what they’re doing on the on the court. And when I was done with that tournament, we lost the first round in the pre-qualification in world power tour. And, yeah, I wasn’t that good at the moment, but I just felt like, Okay, if they are doing this amount of hours on the gym and on the court, and from my perspective, is, it was not even half of the half of the time I thought they were putting in. So, I started to okay, if there are doing one hour, I won’t going to, I’m going to do two hours on the team. If they are going to do two hours on the court, I’m going to go do four hours on the court. So, that was my like, haunting motivation all the time. If they are doing this, I’m doing this. And, and I’m that kind of person that if I’m locked into something, I’m that is only that’s also my Achilles in parallel. I may be getting too much theosophy in the work I’m doing. Like, it’s the only thing that existing so I’m very, like, fired up of doing or putting the work in. So, at that time, it was exactly what I needed. So, that’s the way I turned pro. And I got sponsored to help me with some, some travels and some tournaments. But even though I was speeding up last 616, loving those tournaments, I was like, the next time I got there and play the same couples, I maybe took two, three games more, and that fired, they like, the thing in my head. Okay, next time, I’m going to take a set next time I’m going to, I’m going to win the match. And eventually, I got there where we won our first match. We got to play more tournaments. We got points. We didn’t need to request a wildcard. And every time I got from Spain, I know okay, this I need to improve this and improve. I need to play more faster, more slow. I need to put maybe the fitness level to another to another step two, I had to be quicker I had to be stronger and everything. So, I, I do the I did it very, very serious.

Minter Dial  15:20

You put in the hours. Yeah, work. And so, what do you do to keep the joy in your life? It sounds like you know, you’re worried about being too serious? Is there something that you do to, to balance out the seriousness and all the hard work that you put in on the padel court?

Daniel Windahl  15:38

Yeah, and that’s why I’m that’s my thing right now. Because at the moment, I know how to play every shot, I know how to, to move on the court, what I what I want to accomplish on the court on the training on the on a match. And right now, I don’t need to put in the six hours a day that I needed by them. So, now I’m putting maybe three, four hours. And those three, four hours are with very, a lot of confidence and quality. And when I’m done, I’m like, putting all padel aside to focusing on my fiancée to with my family, my friends, and maybe to watch a football game and to watch start. So, I really need this switch off button. That is very important for me. And when I’m happy, I’m playing really good. And to get happy I need to find this some sort of stuff to do besides padel. In that case, it doesn’t get too big. You know?

Minter Dial  16:58

I do. You know, the funny thing for me is in my life padel plays that role for me, which is just hanging out with friends having a therewith afterwards. So, now I want to talk about the choice of partner, because fortunately, you speak Spanish. You Yeah, well enough, right? Yeah, you make your living on the left side of the court. Choosing a partner, how easy is that? When you’re 50th in the world? You’re obviously very good yet, you know, usually what the problem is, is always finding the right balance the right partner, what are you looking for in your partner?

Daniel Windahl  17:42

The first thing I’m looking for, it’s the chemistry. I care about how they play, obviously. But the really important thing for me is the chemistry, okay? How is this person going to work with me when the wind is blowing in our back or against us when it’s gone by when it’s gone good is that the person I want to go to war to in on the court, when the wind is blowing as highest. And that’s a really important thing is a guy who run from the problem or run to the problem to solve it. Because a lot of players in the padel word is a lot of they want to gain the results very quickly. And they are maybe encouraging to a new project and want to do really good one, or good work. And after three tournaments, they don’t see the results and changing partner. And if you are going to get to that partnership, you know that you want to have a long-lasting relationship is the it’s the same thing outside the pedal. You have to get to know you have to know how they’re working both with the with the padel king, but also ice outside how they’re thinking how do they want to warm up before a match or before training? How much are they willing to put in the work during the tournament and after the tournament and the between? So, that’s a really important thing for me when I’m seeing my partner besides how they’re playing. Obviously, they have to have some standards but that’s the most important thing for me with the chemistry then. Then if we are feeling good if my partner is helping me, I am happy. I know that we can reach some sort of level that we can maybe go to a quarterfinal or, or so, which is our goal. And that’s the most important thing.

Minter Dial  20:12

It does feel a little bit like a marriage. Yeah. That’s the challenge is knowing how to get through the hard times. So, puppy love when you know each other for a few months, and maybe a year and then and then something deep happens, something difficult happens, it can be bad news or whatever. And how do you get through that bad news? You know, getting fired by a team, you shouldn’t have beat last two? Do you walk off? You know, blame each other? Or do you think about that as a lovely learning lesson and figure out exactly how to improve?

Daniel Windahl  20:48

Yeah, you have to see your part in it all the time, you cannot rely that your partner is the problem. It’s often you have something to do with.

Minter Dial  20:59

Yeah, even if it’s communications. And so, what about your way of setting down a target and ambition for a couple like you and Solano? What how do you establish that objective? A mutual objective? You know, because you always want to do more, you want to be better? You want to earn this, you want to you know, get done. Number one, why not? But how do you come up with something that is an objective that works for you?

Daniel Windahl  21:28

Yeah, we, we have been friends for a lot of years. And we have been playing together for maybe two, two and a half year, but back and forth. And we are thinking the same. The same in the appellate court, and we have a lot of strength and this, and that together could be a big weapon that we can use towards all the players on the tour. And when we have been playing those big matches, we have been feeling that they were number ones, and I’ve felt that but we have something some weapons that can like when the point against everybody, okay, if we can use that weapon, and together, feel the rhythm that we can both reach, we know we can both reach, then we can seriously gain a lot of confidence and win a lot of matches. And that’s the that’s the way and that’s the positivity that leads to okay, if we can be this type of couples, where do we put the bar the flag on the green or I don’t know, where, where is, where is the next step. And when we have been talking about that it’s a quarterfinal we really want to reach, and we really want to believe that it’s possible. And then we need to win the top, maybe some top eight top 16 couples. And for me, that doesn’t scare me. But it’s a high mountain to climb.

Minter Dial  23:22

So, it is very impressive. You had, let’s say the fortune or misfortune according to how you want to look at it, of playing the guys who just did their last dance, as they’re all saying in Spanish, Galan and Lebron, and both times you bet them both times in roughly the round of 32. I can’t remember in both times, you had an amazing first set. Tell us what it’s like to play them. I mean, from my angle. I watched them, you know, everyone, by the way, a lot. And I can say I’m an analyst of their games. It’s hard for us from the sidelines, really get it. I’ve had the chance to play with some very good players top 100 For sure. So, I know a little bit what’s like, but I’m 60. So, it’s much harder, but you were there. And you were at their level you were playing even with them. What’s it like to play a Galan and Lebron?

Daniel Windahl  24:19

No. They are obviously one of the best players in the world. And they are having. So, they have they’re having so many weapons on their on their hands, they can play. They can play whatever card you have, and they have answers to everything. And it is a speed that you are not used to. And that’s why I’m very grateful for having them as the opponent for the first two tournaments and now in Mexico we played against in both the moment but it’s really good to have that start to feel that rhythm. And when I was getting back from those tournaments, I felt how slow the ball went in Sweden. And walking. Yeah, not walk in the park, but the speed was remarkably different. And they are, they’re always pushing you to the limit that your need to have some sort of luck and play at your highest limits. And when you have that have that we have a bad thing in Swedish, but I don’t want to say it in English. But when you have that threat to towards you, you are playing so on some, some little margin all the time. And in an important moment, they are like, increasing the level even more. So, you need to play at your limits all the time. And to have a little bit of luck. And that’s why the they are the best in the world.

Minter Dial  26:10

It’s very daunting, in my mind. Imagine you know, even your best shot, they just sort of walk over a cup of tea. And it was a great little bit, but you know, they feel like they see the ball a mile ahead of time. Yeah, they get landed. I don’t I don’t I mean, I although the last batch he paid was very, very softly from him. But there’s basically you feel that he’s a wall at the net. Yeah, you can hit it with a gun, and he would still get that ball.

Daniel Windahl  26:39

Yeah, for sure. He is for best player on blocking the ball. For sure.

Minter Dial  26:46

I mean, there are others who are quick like DiNenno and Chingotto, who’ve got that speed at that net that twitch (nerve) which I observe. I mean they’re all very good of course. So, let’s talk about your game. What’s your favorite shot now, Danne?

Daniel Windahl  27:04

I will say my formula for sure. forehand volley Yeah, when I had the day I were often when I’m playing, I am having a hard time to miss that particularly sharp and that’s a shot I really would like to have as a weapon. Yeah, the rest of the years I’m playing.

Minter Dial  27:33

You need to get on it and then that sharp cut right, you know, it’s finding that the impact point and then dropping it so that it cuts off the back wall.

Daniel Windahl  27:45

Yeah, exactly. And I can play it like straight in the middle and crosscourt I don’t think when I’m I don’t think a lot when I’m playing that shop. It is always working.

Minter Dial  27:59

Reminds me of Sampras a little bit. Yeah, what about what about what how do you describe your type of play overall what sort of animal are you on a padel court?

Daniel Windahl  28:10

Animal? I will say a bear, for sure. Yeah, actually I they’re calling me the bear in Sweden the polar bear and that’s because my roar on the courts, which are very dark and very high; and yeah, I feel big on the court. I’m playing very fast. I like to get this volley emotions and when it’s getting fast, like if your match getting played fast I’m more like confident in that month and now I’m player getting to play more slow, and liking it; but when the match is playing played fast I really love it.

Minter Dial  29:06

So, that means on courts that are a little bit warmer.

Daniel Windahl  29:11

Yeah. Warmer and actually I like when there are a lot of wind as well because then you are not able to use the smash so much. And then you’re having this volley-volley motion, this mini tennis emotions a lot. And that’s a game I really like.

Minter Dial  29:35

Sweet. All right, what about a shot that you feel you need to work on which shot Do you want to improve on the most?

Daniel Windahl  29:43

The counterattack to even when they are hitting. Not a bad smash but that smash you need to jump and knock it out there One I need to improve.

Minter Dial  30:02

Oh, right. You know the one that goes back over just enough you to smash out with the backend, like a Paquito?

Daniel Windahl  30:07

Yeah, exactly. I’m not bad at it. But it’s a shot that I see the top 10 is doing 10 out of 10. They are not missing it. That’s, yeah…

Minter Dial  30:21

They makes it look easy. Yeah,

Daniel Windahl  30:24

Exactly, exactly.

Minter Dial  30:27

I have yet to manage to hit it out once. I mean, I I’ve got to it. I mean, I can still sometimes get to it. And then I remember I’ve got to then I got to do it. Because the other thing is, you know, if you’re not practicing, all you’re going to do is push it back. You know, Oh, I got to it. And then I’m glad. And then I just push it back, you try to find some hope. But the other idea of slapping it back down, you know takes a whole another mindset there.

Daniel Windahl  30:53

Yeah. Right. To take advantage of it.

Minter Dial  30:56

Well, that you need to be quick on your feet and young like you are but Danne. And so, what about the other players that you see on the court, you’ve actually had the privilege of playing against so many of them. Who do you admire the most amongst the women and amongst the men?

Daniel Windahl  31:17

I admire a lot of the player Juan Martin Diaz, the lefty, yeah, exactly. I got the privilege to play by side in America versus Europe. And I really like that kind of person that kind of play on the court and the way he thinks pedal and the way he is outside the pedal court. And I’m really big fan of him.

Minter Dial  31:47

So, what you’re talking about there is that mentality that the attitude to life at some level, not just his attitude on the court?

Daniel Windahl  31:57

No, no, no, no, for sure. But I remember a video where when he was retiring last year that he has been, have been accomplished so many great things to win so many titles to be were number one for I don’t know how many years, 12 years, 13 years. And the only thing he wanted to accomplish with the padel was everyone to think he’s a great guy. And it doesn’t matter with the title, it doesn’t matter with the way he played pilot, he just wants to be felt like he was appreciated. And a great guy and a great person. And that is something to learn from. And, and that was something I was learning from him when I was playing against him and with him. And he was always so happy on the court.

Minter Dial  32:55

I get the feeling he was generous. Yeah,

Daniel Windahl  32:57

for sure. For sure. Very generous. And when I was I I’ve been playing against him three times, and I won two of them. And after every match, and especially the wins I got he was writing a text later on the day and congrats on it, you really deserve the win and you are playing great pillar and I hope you continue to do it. And that that that doesn’t happen so many times when you are beating a guy who has that reputation and that you have that mentality and that accomplishment he had been having. So, here he had been inspiring me a lot.

Minter Dial  33:43

And don’t get me wrong. I mean, I definitely I hear you. And I wonder to what extent he’s part of the passing generation because it does seem that padel is getting more sophisticated. It’s getting more competitive mas dinero, more money will we do you think that padel can keep that fiber of that generosity the idea that it’s about padel not just about winning?

Daniel Windahl  34:13

I hope they will be learning from that kind of generosity, but I really think that padel is going towards more the ingredient list, the way of thinking, it’s just yourself. It’s like in the tennis world that you’re thinking about yourself. You’re thinking about the best partner and you want to increase the ranking no matter what the what people you have to get by. And then it’s a really Yeah, it’s going to towards a more individual sport, which is not the Yeah, which I feel A pity.

Minter Dial  35:02

You do get the feeling that there is something going on these days, at least from the outside that I know of. What about the funniest thing Danne that’s ever happened to you in padel, whether it’s on or off the Corbeau round padel what’s made you brought such joy?

Daniel Windahl  35:19

Add the first thing I’m, I’m thinking of, it’s the first. The first hello session I was playing. Like, in this period when I was playing five to six hours a day. I was playing with a guy named Joakim. And he was he was a funny guy. And I didn’t know him since I was starting to play padel. And he asked me that, Daniel, I know, you had been playing padel for long, but you want to be the best in this country already. But could you play a division? League with me? For one week? Just I really want to win it. And for each win, I will give you a cinnamon bun. And I was Yeah, yeah, let’s do it. Full on.

Minter Dial  36:18

That is, you have to have a little chutzpah to offer that right. You know, it’s not like you said $10,000 Or you know, you’re as a cinnamon bun. I hope you like cinnamon buns, because I hope you want lots of matches.

Daniel Windahl  36:31

Yeah, we won. Every match we got, and we won the league that year. And that is six, seven years ago. And that’s a memory I will always carry with me.

Minter Dial  36:47

It was really good on you. Joakim. What? So, you’ve had a very, I would say deep journey with padel. Are you going high as well? What would you say? The life lesson of padel has brought to you.

Daniel Windahl  37:06

The most important thing is to enjoy life. And no matter what position you’re on the ranking no matter what position you’re in, in anything. It’s really about enjoying life. And if you want to succeed in yourself in your own mind, it’s if you could be happy alongside the journey you are doing and not be so into the destination where you will be ending your you will be another person and that’s a really important lesson that I tried to follow when Yeah, when periods of playing bad padel and or are heading up. And if you can, if you can, just can enjoy life and be happy no matter what. It will be a great memory no matter what.

Minter Dial  38:08

And, yeah, it seems actually that when you’re happy you also actually perform better, too.

Daniel Windahl  38:13

Yeah, for sure. There are those are two ingredients don’t the goes hand in hand. For sure.

Minter Dial  38:21

So, just to finish, Danne, you have this ambition with Solana to get to the quarters, where it was the future of padel hold for you. And what do you think about the future of padel in Sweden? Because it’s obviously had a very up, up and now down?

Daniel Windahl  38:39

Yeah, life now but I really think of the switch, the level is increasing. I see a bright future of padel increasingly in the whole country and becoming almost a national sport. And I see a bright future there. And for me, I really, I always felt that I was meant to be something big, but I’m not sure if it’s as a player or as a coach or as ingredients to help others to get their goals. I don’t know but I’m still trying to figure it out. And yeah, I I’m learning by the process. And I see about the future and after my pal career I will for sure start to do my own academy and to for the Scandinavian people especially. And yeah, it’s a future that lies bright.

Minter Dial  39:49

How far in the future is it going to be before we have a Swedish top 10? I don’t want to be silly and say top one I don’t know. But top ten? When you think that can happen?

Daniel Windahl  40:01

My highest goal in my padel is top 20, but top 10? If I’m not able to say myself I would say maybe 10-15 years…

Minter Dial  40:17

We all have a long way to go. Because they have the infrastructure, the numbers, and the history of the thing, they sort of like in their blood like of rugby and New Zealanders. You know, you can still have 3 million 300 million people in your country and still be debt at football. Yeah. But yeah, basically, they just don’t know it yet. Anyway, Danne, it has been a super privilege and pleasure to chat with you. I thank you for your candor. Likewise, sharing the joy, it’s a beautiful thing. I also wish you great success in the wild in life, in battle, and with your upcoming fiancée. So, Danne Windahl, Vamos!

Daniel Windahl  41:03

Thank you. Thank you for having me.

Minter Dial  41:08

So, I hope you’ve enjoyed this Joy of Padel episode. Please don’t forget to subscribe to be the first in queue for the next episode. And if you like what you hear, please do share it around with other padel aficionados. This is a sport that deserves to be played by absolutely everyone. And if you’ve got a story that you’d like to share, please send me an email or a better yet a voice note at NMinterDial@gmail.com With that, thanks for listening. And see you on the next episode of the Joy of Padel podcast. ¡ Vamos !