The Alboran Sessions
Alborán Sessions is the podcast of Alborán Social Club — an independent publication about padel and the life that has grown up around it. Each episode, Alex sits down with the people building the sport's culture and its business: founders and federations, coaches and club-owners, the players changing how the game is watched and the characters changing how it is sold. The conversations are unhurried and on the record. We are interested in how things actually work — who counts the players, who pays for the courts, what a boom does to a quiet game — and in the people willing to say so plainly.
We record where the sport is happening: a summit floor in Barcelona, a club terrace on the coast, a tournament between matches. No press releases read aloud, nothing traded for access. Just a long table, a good guest, and the time to follow the thread.
New episodes monthly. If you play, watch, build, or simply sit on the terrace afterwards, pull up a chair.
Alborán Social Club · alboransocialclub.com
The Alboran Sessions
Alboran Episode 3 - Live from Premier Padel P1 London
We recorded this from the inaugural Premier Padel P1 event in london in August.
We tried to cover as much as we could and on this podcast we actually took a different approach and had Andy be interviewed by Alex.
We talk all things about the event which was filmed just off the side courts in the venue.
Did we guess the winners right, listen now to find out.
Every kid's going crazy, animals going crazy, everyone going crazy.
SPEAKER_02So we are here in our reserved media seating. There you go, there's a little man in the background there. Uh I look great, don't I? I'm very well, yes.
SPEAKER_03It's interesting to be the state of the camera rather than the other side when you're filming the podcast.
SPEAKER_02For us today, the show goes on. So here we are then, the Albrand Sloja Club live from the London Premier Paddle P1 event. We're so excited, just got in about 15 minutes ago, got our press glasses, jumped our stuff, and we've come out for a wonder. So behind me, got the practice courts, Sanyu and Nesbury just casually warming up for their match around two o'clock. In about 10 minutes' time, Big Gonzalez fan favourite for many paddle fans around the world is gonna be on court number one. So, what we're gonna be doing today, we're trying to get some behind-the-scenes snippets for you. We're gonna be hopefully asking some players some questions about their matches, about how they're finding the London P1 event. We're gonna try and get some bits on courts two, three, and four. The beauty of being here on a Thursday. There are more matches going on outside of the centre court. And whatever, whatever the road takes us, we're gonna go. So stay tuned. I hope you enjoy. So we are here in our reserved media seating. There's only a very select few seats, so we're quite lucky to get in nice and early. We've got the first match coming up of the Thursday London Premier Battle. All of Josie Maria and V. Gonzalez takes on Livia Martinez and Aguera Perez. Should be a really exciting one. As I mentioned before, V. Gonzalez, such a fan favourite. She's just got that character about her, the hair I know people love. So really looking forward to watching this. Watching a few more throughout the day as well as some others on different courts. So it should be really exciting. So we are finished here on court number two in a round of 16 match. Martin DeNeno and Paquito Navarro winning 6'4, 6'2. Overall, they definitely were the better pair on the day. Paquito Navarro, his typical expressive self, giving it the guitar with some celebrations, getting the crowd involved. Martin Deneno is just an animal on court when he gets going. So they're into the quarterfinals tomorrow. Should be a great watch. Well, I have to say, this has definitely been the busiest mix zone has been after a match so far. Chingotto signing a load of autographs over there. I'm not sure if you can see him in the background. And then Gallan is still somewhere in that crowd over there. A 6-3-6-3 win for the number two seed. I have to say, actually, quite an interesting point. There was a point of about 3-1. Oops. Hustle and bustle. There you go, there's Ali Galan in the background there. 3-1 up, 4-15 up, Alex Ruiz and Sanchez were in that um second set, and then they lose 6-3. I mean it shows the quality of Gingotto and Gallan want to turn it on, they can.
SPEAKER_01So again, every kid's going crazy, animals going crazy, everyone going crazy.
SPEAKER_02It shows that these are truly global superstars, Ali Galan and Feli Gingotto. I look great, don't I? A lovely little display here from the London Premier Paddle. I assume these are butterfly wings made of paddle rackets. Pretty cool. But let's take a little walk through. So we've got a bit of a social area around here. And over here we've actually got uh what's really interesting is a little mini paddle court. Um certain people I've played with before, I think this would suit them a lot more compared to actual um actual paddle, a little bit smaller, a bit more for their power, you know. Um, but again, really nice to have some interactive games for people to come and do, and um then we'll come over to the practice courts over here. So at the moment we've currently got UK number two or three, Louis Harris, clearly on court with some of the um some some juniors around having a good time. So, again, great to see lots of interactive, lots of people having fun. It's a great vibe. So, one of the many stands here is the LTA Paddle Stand. It's been really nice actually seeing a load of people going up to the stand throughout the day and interacting with what they've got on offer. They've got a couple of interactive things, they've got um some games just around the corner, and it's just they're showcasing what is coming into the future of British Paddle and I guess forecasting what we could be in the future. Seeing so many brilliant players from Spain and Argentina in specific, can England get there in the future? And potentially we can. Have to say, lots of people in there welling getting a well-deserved drink. For us, though, the show goes on. Right, so just outside of court one, we have a load of paddle stands and some of the biggest brands around to be honest. So just behind me over here, we have Head. Obviously, Coeo the King been advertised on there. Some of his new rackets have been released and are rather lovely, I have to say. Then as we walk round, we have Joma, then we have Wilson over there, Cooper as well, and then to bring you around full circle, we have Nox. All of these stands you can go and try out the rackets, you can talk to the staff about what rackets would be to your preference, shoes as well, any kind of paddle accessories, really, which is really nice if you're someone that's looking for to take the next step in their game or to you know just experience a little bit more outside of your the higher rackets that that a lot of people might be using. So, um, so yeah, really nice to kind of get the atmosphere and and know that this is there as well as an extra to watching some great paddle. So now at the ball paddle stand, as always, they've got a load of fantastic gear. But I mean, what really kind of impressed me is is look at the lineup they've got on that screen at the back. They've got, in terms of men, Cardona, Teo, uh Chingotto, Deneno, Paquito. On the women's side, they've got Gemma Tree, they've got Delphi Bre, they've got Bear Gonzalez. I mean, talk about some lineup for a brand. So, what we were wondering, if we buy one of these t-shirts, buy one of their rackets, sure that means we're in the main draw next year, right? Welcome to episode three of the Algorand Social Club Podcast. You can see we are live at the London Premier P1, the first ever of its kind. And we have luckily managed to score some press passes. Joining me today is my business partner, Andy.
SPEAKER_03How are you, Andy? I'm very well, yes. It's interesting to be this side of the camera rather than the other side when you're filming the podcast.
SPEAKER_02So Andy usually does a very good job of telling me how many minutes I am into the pod, and it always surprises me. So yeah, it's it's a bit of a change of scenery for you today. But just a little bit. I've got the watch though, so it's okay. I mean, I'll still keep the time. And of course, we're both repping our lovely our brand social club t-shirts, which I have to say have come out looking very nice. So all's well. Um I guess first thing, Andy, that we should touch on. We've had the privilege today of seeing some seeing the best players in the world up close. What's been first of all, is there a particular match that has stood out to you? And then following on from that, what is it about that match or about that person that surprised you?
SPEAKER_03Well, we've seen three matches, and I think they're all slightly different apart from one thing, which is that consistency. We speak about it all the time at the club, but it's unbelievable just how consistent these players are at the professional level. And we watched the the last game and it was just it's literally minuscule amount of points, or waiting a star point, losing a break. It's a marginal LRLs for all the different players, and yeah, I think that's just especially at this level, you see even the smallest elements of mistakes can make or break. I mean whether you get to the next round or not.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I I totally agree. I have to always like the space, they make the paddle court look so big. I think you know, yeah for players at club levels like us, I think sometimes it feels so small, you've got so so few options available to you. But then you see some of these players play, they've got acres, they've got so many options.
SPEAKER_03It's as we were talking about before, I I think it's where they know their situational awareness is so high. They just know where the ball is going to be. So that that's that's the amazing part of uh they can anticipate where the ball is going to be hit, where that's going to bounce or like where it's gonna be hit outside, and they're already three, four steps ahead. That I think that's the massive difference that's been amazing for sure.
SPEAKER_02In terms of a particular player, again, so you know, if we if we're listing them off, we watched in in the morning, Bella Gonzalez, as I mentioned before, fanfare, one of my favourite players. Obviously, he's happy in Cuello, the the King, El Mosa. Personally, for me, watching Paquito up close and his mannerisms, the way he conducts himself on court, and actually, because that was on court two, where you're really up close and personal, I don't know, it felt like you were you absorbed in the match and you're like the crowd was so much more part of it. Even though we get some fantastic seats up at court one and we do, that's great. But being so close to Paquito in full flow for me was fantastic.
SPEAKER_03What about you? Yeah, because I think you're you're so close to the action there, you're you're still close to action in centre court. Yeah. But as you said, one of the bits of that match, we were watching the energy drain from the player, you were that's how close you were. You could see it, but yeah, just he he was so excited, wasn't it? And it was just real big roles, and it's something I think you do we do back at the club, you do when you play, but this level of just that's yeah, everyone was bamboo, bamboo, bamboo playing the guitar was amazing. Um but no, I I think that for anyone that gets a chance to go to a P1 event, uh come to the smaller courts because I think that that ability to get so close is something really quite special. Centre court is good, but there's definitely something special about coming to the smaller courts.
SPEAKER_02I mean, we went we mentioned actually just before we started recording potentially, as you say, it's not regret, but potentially looking back in hindsight, you mentioned that actually you'd potentially prefer coming on some earlier days.
SPEAKER_03Why is that? I think we've spoken to a couple of people and have seen the results. Unfortunately, we didn't have any homegrown players through until today. That we obviously we always wanted that. But I think coming on the Tuesday, coming on the Wednesday, getting so a lot of the smaller games, we might have seen a little bit more of the homegrown talent and been cheering them on. So I think for next year we're definitely going to be back. That would probably be something I would look to do because I do think we just we missed that ability of those games. There was only court two on today and centre court, and as we can see, we've got court three here and we've got court four behind us. So it would have been good to have all of these open, just going in between all of the matches. There's unreserved seating here, so I think that can be quite enjoyable actually. Yeah, no, I I certainly agree with you.
SPEAKER_02I have to say you know, the the way that and we can talk about that a little bit more in terms of the future of UK paddle, but you are right, it's predominantly Argentina, it's predominantly Spain, and I think we've in the UK perhaps developed our favourites and and they're crowd favourites that you'd like to get behind. And obviously you have that rivalries like Galan and LeBron, but there's nothing quite like a a home a homegrown talent that is easy to get behind, and it would be nice. And this is what I'm saying, next year, hopefully year by year, maybe a round progressive, round progressive.
SPEAKER_03I think what the the key one to that will be is when we start to see British players at P1 events on the main tour card that's not in a wild card. They've not come in um because of tournaments in London. That that's I think where we're gonna really see the difference. Um and I hope it happens soon. Uh I know that it's taken a long while, even with tennis was here, it's always been built into our fabric of society for the sport. So it will take its time, but I I I'm expecting some good things of some of the British players for sure.
SPEAKER_02One thing that I think we've both noticed today that perhaps sets the elite from the exceptional, if if that's the right way to put it, is the mentality of some of the players. I think and I think this ranges from every level, from club level, for example, you you you get yourself in a great point, and if your mentality isn't where it should be, it can hurt you badly. We watched a match on over on court number two where there were there were moments where Paquito Navarra and Deneno were so amped up and getting behind each other, whereas Gala and Jensen seemed to be a little bit despondent. Is that something that you noticed as well? And how big a plot a part do you think that plays to because they they were number five C's, there wasn't a lot in between it felt like playing standards, but perhaps the mentality was the difference?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I I think that's got to be a huge part. I'm sure I had read about a stat somewhere and they were talking about the difference between the top ten, this was tennis players, versus the top five. And it was the top five were constantly positive about the situation. A bad shot, it's okay. Let's be happy that when it's okay, this is fine. Right because that negativity, and I know this even from playing paddle myself, it takes time to get rid of that. It takes time to come out of you to get to reset yourself. We were talking about earlier before, so if you want to bring it up, but last night you were 4-0 down, or you're 4-0 up, sorry, and you've ended up losing. That can eat into you. I mean you're so far ahead. I think even as a professional player, we're doing it for a box league friendly, and we still feel that level of pressure. These players are doing it for that when their careers, that when going for a championship. I I can see where definitely the more the higher-end players, they just ride that out, and it's constant positivity. We meant we mentioned before of every point, they're coming up to each other, they're they're high-fiving, they're saying, they're talking. It's not in between games, in between every single point. I thought that was something that was really good. So, yeah, it definitely makes a difference for me for sure.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, 100%. I think just but there's different ways of doing it as well. Paquito and um Denena were very expressive and very, very amped up. However, you know, the the best pair in the world, Koyan Tapi, who had a heartfought battle on court number one, but always very calm, but at the same time, uh still that positive reinforcement and that positive reset if they're in trouble. Like that those kind of two different sides of it, but actually ending in the same result. I think it's just for these top-top players, they know how they want to approach it, and that's that's the plan, they stick to it.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I mean, what what was the start that we saw before the Tapia in Coelho? It was the 91%? 91. something percent effectiveness he had. He'd played 287 matches, and he'd won 262. Yeah. That frightening stats. That level of knowing that you can be as effective as that, that you can be walking into a game and still, and there was a couple of points that in those matches, they didn't play well. Yeah, they weren't playing as well as they should do, and you're almost expecting that peak performance. And when you're number when you are number one and you've won so much, people expect that. And I think we take it for granted that level of effectiveness that you just turn up and go, well, you're just gonna win. Yeah, to maintain that for so long totally totally blew me away. I mean, they'll have a good start, but that that genuinely blew me away.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I think that just I mean if that if there's anything to ever show the quality and the consistency of it, that I mean show people that and then tell them to shut up, basically. Um we've again been um uh very fortunate to receive um press parties for today's event, which has been a fantastic experience for us. I think obviously it's a new publication, new podcast. It's it's good to try and get our name out there, meet more people. How have you so far found the the experience of you know not just being a fan coming to the events, which obviously we are as well, but but but being a part of the media ecosystem?
SPEAKER_03To me it's been quite a surreal experience because look, we came up with ice idea, we wanted to do a paddle publication, we have launched the website last month, so June was the first one, yeah, the first publication coming out, and May we were already at the Paddle World, um the Royal Paddle Summit, sorry, and we'd press accreditation there. So for me, for them to have the trust in us and actually accredit us and see what we're looking to do, that was the kind of surreal moment of. So yeah, the more I think we'll see more of us at more events.
SPEAKER_02I would like to think so. I mean, yeah, I think what to add on to that, I think all this does is just give me the the first to to be at more, not necessarily just at London, which obviously is amazing to be at the very first one, and you'd like to think they're gonna carry on here year on year, but there are so many premier paddles that are so close to us, or so so so many so far away. I I want to see what different ones are like, you know, like we were talking to um paddle drive Gonzalo earlier, who's saying actually there are elements that he's found out that's a bit different from what he's experienced before, which we want to experience.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, he he he I think he was referencing some stuff in Spain where you've got half the press media out there because that's the live and breathe that sport, so I understand that. Um but no, I think it will be interesting even where we're looking to go to the P1 event in Dublin in October. We know it's a weekend that we're there, we don't know where it is, and so if the in the Irish Federation, if you want to tell us, that'd be fantastic. Just drop that in. But we're going to be again in, and that was just by chance. But I think it's something that when we look to do these podcasts, the idea was always we're going away some of our places, we're trying doing some in the UK. So this is great that it's been the UK, but I think it's going to be interesting as we go to other places and we'll try and tie into those events. Um that's where I think, even from a P1 element, absolutely, we're back in London, but who knows where we could end up next.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely, and I guess kind of rounding it off. Premier Paddle being in London for the first time. Obviously, that that in itself shows the growth and significance of the paddle scene in the UK at the moment. Being here it's a Thursday today, so we're here for the round of 16 days, so it's not a weekend day yet. Yeah. It is expected to be full on those days, but even today, it's absolutely buzzing. I mean, I'm sure you would have seen some shots earlier in the video of the social area and the amount of don't know who that is shouting in the background. We're trying to record a podcast here, mate. Um it is it's absolutely buzzing. We got in quite early, we got in about nine o'clock, and there was already a steady flow of people, and then we came out after the first match, it grew. Came out after the second match, really was starting to grow. The the centre court started to get very like pretty much full, or at least the the big the good portions of it. What have you made of of the crowd today and the kind of overall atmosphere around the event?
SPEAKER_03I think it's shown, and I'd spoken to a couple of friends in Malaga about this. We uh they were in Malaga um maybe last month, I believe, or um a few couple of weeks ago. And you will always see on before the weekend, you're gonna see some empty seats. That's pretty much standard. People have got to take the day off, I understand it, unless you're within the industry. But I think you'll see a difference at night time. I think people are gonna be finishing work, so watch it after four. People are gonna be finishing work, come get a couple of drinks, come and catch that in some of the paddock this evening. Um, because it always reminds me of the end-of-year tennis event they used to do at the O2, and that was always a nighttime element, was really buzzing. There was a great atmosphere. That's what I think we're gonna get we're gonna see tonight. I I really feel that the place is gonna fill up, but um Saturday and Sunday, wow, I I can't imagine how busy this is just gonna be. I think it's gonna be a great atmosphere.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I think it's gonna be absolutely buzzing. I think when that, yeah, as you say, the Saturday, when it is really full to the brim, I'd love to see the atmosphere, and I'd also love to see how how which way the tide turns in terms of which who are the crowd supporting and and the if there are any trends that we see throughout the week. I think that's because I'm I'm here tomorrow, and Sat is a fan, you're hoping to come back again and do some reporting maybe on the Sunday. It's again, it's a first ever. We had Pretoria last week, this this week. It's the first of its kind. So it's interesting to see the trends of how the crowds are moving, how they're responding to certain players.
SPEAKER_03I mean fascinating. It is, but I don't think the British crowd has the same element of a favourite. Yeah. I think if you are really into your paddo, you do, you know some of the players, but for me, uh there's no I think it would have to be Bia Gonzalez just because you're Mel Palo Amalagar, of course. We love that. But realistically, I don't see there's that many people that will have a favourite because when I look at it, I'm just here to see an amazing level of paddock. And I think if you come as that as a neutral, you are you can't walk out here and not be happy. Because even some of the games, it's just such a level that you've you've got to be impressed by. You've got you go away going, that would that was worth it. That was really that was really impressive. I think that for the British public is where they'll really begin to fall in love with the game, with the players, when we can then hopefully get to the scenario where we're gonna have some more British players, fantastic. But yeah, I think they'll just be happy with the level of paddock. I might be wrong that win, but so there might be some booze depending on who wins. But uh yeah, I'm I'm hoping the crowd will just be supporting the actual game.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, no, I've got a finger bang on there. Uh and last of all, obviously this will be out after the event is finished, so people watching will already know who's who's been victorious. However, let's stake our claims now. Yeah. Who's winning the men's? Who's winning the men's?
SPEAKER_03I we've still got to see Galen and Chingotto later on. Yeah. I think they're coming on as well.
SPEAKER_02As well as all Bolsberger and LeBron.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. But I think from what I watched with Tapia and Craio, I cannot see. I think they had another gear that's scarily enough. Yeah. I felt that they were they had something else to go, which was scary. Because if that's true, then I I don't see anyone stopping them. So yourself?
SPEAKER_02Uh it's look, I have made no secret over um recent months that Osberger and Bonner are by far my favourite pair. If I have to stake a claim and have to put money on it, I it would be Coelho and Tapia. So I think I agree with what you're saying. They weren't at their best today. They still got the job done in two, and you just felt like it's just there was an air of inevitability about them. The way they were just carrying themselves, it felt like they always knew they were going to do it in two sets. It felt from a crowd perspective, oh, are they alright? Are they you know responding as well as they should to certain situations, but in the end, 7-5-6-4, I think it was in the end. Oh, 7-6. They went to title. Oh sorry, 7-6 and then 6-4, I believe.
SPEAKER_03Even then it just shows that the I can't remember the name of the other players. Um but they were Arroyo and uh Gitzier. Arroyo, yeah, was the can't remember that. Sanchez maybe, I think. So I felt that they were absolutely that when top of their revs, doing everything possible, playing some amazing shots, yeah, and it still wasn't good enough. Yeah, yeah. And it and maybe uh I don't know if I'm wrong, but to I do believe there's that extra gear with Tapio and K. And if it is, wow. I mean, I I just don't see Indy stopping that. Um and what about the women's?
SPEAKER_02Wow, I was just about to go on to this. I mean, so favourite pair in the women's, I mean, really his favourite player, but I'll it is a double sport. Uh Bear Gonzalez and Paulo Josimaria, they're my favourites, and they're gonna win it, I think. I've I I I have to say, I love the way they carry themselves on court, they've got that nice balance of looking like they're having fun, but also concentrating in the big moments and just and staying together in the big moments. And I I I just feel that in the women's over the whole season it's been quite topsy turvy with Bayer, obviously Delphi and uh Gemma Tro on court now. Um quite topsy turvy. I I feel like for a new occasion they'll rise up to it. So I'm going I'm going Bayer and James Maria, what about you?
SPEAKER_03I think I think I would have to agree for sure.
SPEAKER_02But the one thing I noticed. We agree on both both men's and women. Or maybe we just we we just know too much.
SPEAKER_03We're future predicting here then, so this could be very this could be a very bad podcast that all of a sudden actually we've got it clearly wrong. So uh the one thing I did want to talk about though is what was your view on watching um the women's match first thing this morning comparing to the men's match? What what differences did you see between the two?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I I think there's I think well, first of all that the rallies are I think constructed, I won't say in a better way, because that's perhaps disingenuous to the men's side, but it feels like more thought goes into constructing the rally to get into that pinpoint place to finish off to finish off the rally. And actually, I think there's a you know, I think I think there's a misconception, and perhaps I've even fallen into it into the past. You know, it don't want to use the word boring, but it a lot of women's matches last quite a long time. Will you go in and enjoy it? But actually, I've watched some women's games today, I've watched some men's games, and equally they they entertain in different in different ways. From a paddle purist fan, I love seeing the way that a point is constructed. Maybe it lasts that three or four extra shots to get the winner, but that's that's would be the difference I felt, whereas with the men's obviously some of the power they have from the back that put the points done in three, four shots. That's where I'd have the different differentiation. But I have to say, yeah, very kind of pleasantly surprised, I think, with the enjoyment of watching them both looking back on it now.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, what about you? No, for sure. It's the one to me was watching um Paola Jose Maria, and some of the shots she was cutting into the cage, and that was exactly we mentioned that earlier on, watching it, and you could see that it is that shot selection that they're choosing to do a different style or something that the players are not expecting, they'll do that for four or five shots, that works, then they'll move on to something slightly different. Um, what I did find with the men's game though was the like kind of the special technical shots at the end to really finish something off with was on a different level. And you see, the power is definitely there, but I did prefer the kind of longer rallies where you can, as you said, it's almost like a game of chess, they're building up and building up and building up, and then just kind of closing out towards the end. Um but yeah, two amazing.
SPEAKER_02I mean, we we did an article on this recently actually, and said one thing I would love to see is mixed doubles. Like I think that that element of kind of those two worlds colliding in a way would be fascinating to see. Whether that's that's able to happen, who who knows. But kind of seeing both sides of it today, that's kind of only quenched my first a bit more for that to see that.
SPEAKER_03And why do we think that's not there? Because I know that we've got we've got the Hexagon Gup, which is a team event, yeah, but it's again, it's the same gender against the same gender. So we get it at um so you you and Beth, you both play in your partner, you play that in at a mixed level, at a top level in the club. Why do we not see it as we go professional? Is it the power too much?
SPEAKER_02Is it is I would imagine well, I mean, I'm I imagine it's something that's been it it it's a it's a tricky thing, first I mean, scheduling-wise, like it are the top players gonna play mixed instead of level doubles at a premier paddle level? No, the the the schedule's too too busy for that. There's no way they can play two of these matches in a day, and the way it's crammed in you haven't got the time for that. But whether it's a way that you can introduce so so that's I mean that would be I think the main the main point is that just fitting it in. But does that mean then some players who aren't qualifying for these P1 events in their um same-sex drawers, is that an opportunity for them to perhaps go in there? Potentially there's there's a conversation or argument for that. There's always going to be caveats to this, and so then my immediate force as I was even saying that, would anyone turn up and watch them if if they're not household names? Yeah. Potentially it's it's more with the Hexagon Cup, I think it's great because, you know, I I think you'd if you asked the players honestly would what would you prefer to win a P1 event or the Hexagon Cup, I think if they answered honestly they'd say a P1 event. Yeah, yeah, for sure, yeah. However, that kind of team mentality where the men and the women are both are mixing, is the perfect, I think it's the perfect breeding ground for it to stem from. That that's what I would say. And I would then potentially, currently there's one of those a year, could there be two, could there be three, and then just build it up that way.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_02There's an argument for that in my opinion.
SPEAKER_03I can I yeah, I can see there being maybe like a one-off style an event, something a little bit special where we might get to see some fantastic matchups. Um so FIP, if you're listening to and you heard it here first, this is the perfect idea for a new tournament. But no, I I do see it as being if the crowd want it, it's there. But I think I agree with you. I think it's very difficult to. I know when we go to tournaments or even like another LTA events, if you're then playing in a mixed partnership and you're playing in your own doubles, you generally have got to do in different weekends because you can't make it work. So, yeah, I can see why that just wouldn't work within the P1 event, but maybe we'll see in a few years that in a slightly different kind of event for sure.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, let's hope so. Fantastic. So, how have you found your your in front of camera experience? Enjoyed it? I think it's been okay.
SPEAKER_03I've not managed to swear so far, so I'm taking that.
SPEAKER_02I'm taking that as a success. You know, I know that's that's a great job. He's done very, very well. Um, yeah, I guess final thoughts is obviously we're gonna head into and um do some more reporting throughout the rest of the day, but what you what your final thoughts on on the London P1?
SPEAKER_03So I've loved the first half. I yeah, I've been very happy with this podcast, so I've managed to enjoy myself and hopefully articulate myself relatively well. The good thing is it comes with subtitles.
SPEAKER_02I was gonna say I'm gonna subtitle the Scott's image.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, yeah. So that that that's good. I mean English people need that for sure. Um, but no, I'm I'm looking forward to the last half. Let's see how it is at night time, let's see that vibe and that atmosphere, um, and then let's go around and see some of the stalls as well, because I think that'll be quite important. So we'll do a little better filming with them and show people what's there as well.
SPEAKER_02And and within that, that will be uh hopefully you would have watched that before coming to this, or potentially we'll do a separate video. Um fantastic. Yeah, so that has been episode three of the Albert Social Club podcast. I do hope you enjoy. Please check out our social medias, please check out the website, loads of fantastic articles will come from this event, of course. But for now, we'll see you at the club.