The joy of top flight padel IRL
Padel tourism isn’t limited to coaching trips to the sun; growing numbers of players are padel-tripping to pro tournaments (think Premier Padel, the Hexagon Cup and even the recent inaugural US Open). Padel fanatic Minter Dial recently attended the Premier Padel Greenweez Paris Major and reports back on why attending top-flight matches is worth its weight in golden points.
As a sports enthusiast I’ve always believed that nothing beats the thrill of witnessing a live sporting event. This rings especially true for padel, a sport that’s rapidly gaining popularity worldwide. In an interview on my Joy of Padel podcast, Vianney Dubois, co-founder of PadelIntelligence.Live, pointed out that padel is peculiar in that, unlike all big sports, there are many more people playing padel (more than 30 million) around the world than watching the pros. After attending the Paris Major 2024 at Roland Garros, I can confidently say that watching a professional padel tournament in person offers a unique and enriching experience that simply can’t be replicated through a screen. For the final on the Sunday, the Philippe Chatrier centre court was essentially sold out, with more than 13,000 people (and 64,000 attendees across the week, up 73% from the prior year’s event). Let me take you through the myriad benefits of being there in the flesh.
Immersion in the ecosystem
You’re not just watching matches, you’re diving headfirst into the sport’s vibrant ecosystem. The ‘Garden Padel’ at Roland Garros, the social hub of the tournament, showcased an array of sponsors. From energy drinks to banking, equipment suppliers to skincare brands, the presence of these companies highlights the sport’s expanding reach and economic impact.
Access to players
One of the most charming aspects of attending a padel tournament is the remarkable accessibility of the players. Unlike many other professional sports, padel maintains an intimate atmosphere where fans can easily interact with their idols. You can be walking through the grounds and suddenly find yourself face-to-face with Ale Galan or Ari Sanchez (as I did)! This level of proximity is genuinely exciting for the fans, fostering a sense of community that’s rarely seen in other sports. If you want to get a photo or interact with the players you’ll probably need to break out your Spanish…or use universal hand signals. The vast majority of the top players don’t speak English, with notable exceptions such as Patty Llaguno, Marta Ortega, and Mike Yanguas. There is a concerted effort afoot to get more players speaking English. To wit, you can now hear Paquito Navarro and Arthur Coello saying a few words in English in the after-match interviews.
Multi-sensory experience
Watching padel on TV can be exciting but it pales in comparison to the sensory feast of being there in person. At Roland Garros, I was struck by:
- The sounds: the crisp crack of the ball against the racket, the constant communication between players and the DJ (only on the grandstand court) between side-changes created an auditory tapestry that a TV simply can’t replicate. It was electric.
- The atmosphere: the palpable tension during crucial points, the collective gasps as a seemingly impossible shot is made (only to see the point continue on) and the electric energy of the crowd all contribute to an immersive experience.
- The visuals: especially during the early rounds, where most of the games are played on supporting courts surrounding the central court, you can sit literally a few feet away from the court. Seeing the players’ footwork up close, observing their positioning and watching their reactions in real-time offers invaluable insights for padel enthusiasts.
Learning opportunities
Attending a pro tournament is like attending a masterclass in padel. Here’s what you can learn:
- Tactical insights: by observing matches in person you can better understand the strategies employed by top players, including shot selection, court positioning and partner communication. You can see how important it is to gain and keep the net by the intensity with which the players rush or transition up to the net.
- Technical nuances: watching live allows you to appreciate the finer details of the game, such as the consistency of serves (88% of first serves land in) and the precision of lobs (90% fall between the service line and back glass).
- Mental fortitude: Witnessing how players handle pressure, recover from mistakes and maintain focus provides valuable lessons in mental toughness.
Appreciation of the differences
Being present at a tournament allows you to fully grasp the different styles and levels of the game:
* The gap between top and bottom: Watch the qualifying rounds and you’ll see up-and-coming players battling with all their wits to win. The games are entirely entertaining and seem top notch in level (I wouldn’t ever get a game). Yet, when the qualifiers come through to the main draw and face the seeded players, they tend to get swept aside in short order.
* Gender differences: moving between men’s and women’s matches reveals the unique characteristics of each, from the pace of play to the style of shots employed. As a friend recounted to me, the men’s game is out of this world, while the women’s game is inspirational (for being more accessible).
* Player personalities: observing players’ on-court demeanor, interactions with partners and coaches and reactions to different situations offers insights into their personalities that often don’t translate through a screen. I was particularly struck at the body language of Paquito Navarro playing alongside the future talent, Pablo Cardona.
Environmental factors
Attending in person also highlights the impact of external factors on the game:
- Weather conditions: experiencing first-hand how wind, temperature and humidity affect play adds another layer of appreciation for players’ skills. When the sun decided to finally make an appearance in Paris, on the Philippe Chatrier court, you could see the shifting sunlight and shadows playing havoc with the players.
- Court characteristics: different venues and surfaces can significantly impact the game’s pace and style, something that’s much more apparent when you’re there in person. For the Paris Major, the playing conditions were much slower than in the previous tournament in Valladolid, meaning that the players absolutely had to adapt their styles and tactics.
In conclusion, while watching padel on TV or online certainly has its merits, nothing can replace the rich, multi-faceted experience of attending a professional tournament in person. From the electric atmosphere to the unparalleled access to players, the learning opportunities to the sensory immersion, being there live offers a deeper connection to the sport that every padel enthusiast should experience at least once. So, the next time you have the chance to attend a pro padel tournament don’t hesitate – it’s an experience you won’t soon forget! 🎾
