Iván Pérez Saavedra's Andorra Triumph Fuels Olympic Dream

Even before his recent win, people on the Spanish squash circuit knew Iván Pérez Saavedra (born in Adeje in 2000) was a special player. At 24, he was already experienced in tough tournaments, incredibly mentally strong, and used to playing against higher-ranked opponents. But his performance at the Open Andorra Cooper 2025 – similar to an ATP250 event in tennis – removed any doubt about his talent. The player from Tenerife put on a masterclass, securing the "most important" victory of his career. It was a huge week, where he beat four rivals ranked in the world's Top 50, including the world number 19 in the final.

Iván lives in Barcelona. He explains, "If I wanted to commit to squash, I had to move here." After school, he moved to the Catalan capital, where he has been for seven years. He joined the Barcelona Global Squash Academy, which is known for developing national squash talent and, in his opinion, is "the best academy in Spain." There, he has improved his game, coordination, and mental toughness – something he admits he didn't always have.

This is the story of a player who changed his life to focus on squash, a sport that is still growing in Spain but will soon be part of the Olympic Games, making its debut in Los Angeles in 2028.

His win in Andorra was both a surprise and a confirmation of his abilities. He entered the tournament ranked world number 79 by the Professional Squash Association, "under the radar," as he puts it. However, even before his first match, he felt he could compete with – if not necessarily defeat – opponents who were ranked much higher.

As he advanced through the rounds, his confidence grew. His second win – against the tournament's second seed and a world Top 30 player – "opened up the draw" for him. From that point, he faced a series of very tough matches, but he managed them well thanks to his fitness and, crucially, a strong mindset he had developed in recent months. He stresses that he has seen "a huge improvement" since he started working with a sports psychologist in April. He explains that his maturity comes from two things: his experience and professional emotional support. "Mentally, I feel I've now cemented all the positive thoughts," he says. This change was key to his success in Andorra. "I see myself as a player with excellent physical condition and mental strength," he adds.

In the final, he faced the clear favorite, Frenchman Grégoire Marche, ranked world number 19. The player from Tenerife stayed calm, playing an aggressive and varied game to win 3-1 (11-9, 3-11, 11-3, 11-8) in 52 minutes.

The tournament had a total prize fund of $40,000. As champion, Pérez took home almost 15% of that, about $5,000. Has he bought himself anything special? "Not really... money is always tight at the end of the year," he jokes. But the prize money isn't the main reason his win in Andorra is so important. Instead, it's the doors it opens to higher-level tournaments and his first-time entry into the world's top 60. "It really helps me get into bigger tournaments," he explains.

Pérez Saavedra expects a very busy December, with "few holidays," he says. January will kick off a new season where he might get to play in a Gold tournament in Pakistan. This event offers a $150,000 prize pool and features many of the world's top squash players. Although he's currently listed as "third reserve," the player from Tenerife sees it as a real possibility. He describes it as a "cool" opportunity, offering high-level competition, prestige, and visibility. "If I get in there, it would be incredible," he remarks.

If the Pakistan tournament doesn't happen, he's planning to aim for a Silver event in the United States. This is a slightly lower category but still very important for his career. All these plans are part of his journey to achieve his biggest dream: competing in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

He admits that his previous ranking made the Olympics seem like a distant goal. However, the progress he has made this year makes him believe it's now a realistic dream. With two and a half years to go, he knows it's "a race against time." He doesn't make any promises, but he also doesn't hold back, stating, "based on my level, I could be there." This suggests a future where his schedule, preparation, maturity, and results could lead him to the Olympic Games.