At Roland-Garros during the  Paris Major 2025 ,  Daniel Dios , Director Padel in  WME Sports (IMG) , spoke about the future of padel and the importance of investing in the next generation. For him, the  FIP Promises  and the training of young people internationally are essential to expand the elite beyond Spain and Argentina.

Avoiding domination limited to two countries

“We represent Arturo Coello, but we want to expand. In 15 years, it wouldn't be good if the best people still came from Spain and Argentina. We need French, Italian, Swedish, and American talent,” he explains.
The problem? “In many countries, clubs focus on amateurs. There's a lack of coaches, structures, and resources for juniors. If we don't change that, the sport won't be able to reach the top international level.”

The FIP Promises of Paris : a decisive step

Dios emphasizes the importance of the initiative: “Usually, these junior tournaments only attract local players. For the first time, young players from many countries will be invited, with travel and accommodation covered. This is unprecedented.”

Beyond competition, he emphasizes learning: “We want these kids, at 12 or 14, to begin to understand what it means to become a professional. Not just in the game, but also in terms of image, in terms of sponsorship. Some will say it's too early, but look at Carlos Alcaraz: IMG supported him from the age of 13. Without that, his career would have been different.”

Attitude before talent

His number one criterion remains personality: “What interests us is not just talent. It's above all attitude, energy, and willpower. Without that, talent is useless.”

What countries for tomorrow?

“In Spain, the ecosystem is very strong, with many players and coaches. The probability of producing champions is higher there. France and Italy are progressing very quickly, and Sweden is already adopting a very structured approach. But in other countries like Germany, Poland, or the United States, the road is still long.”

A roadmap for the future

For Dios, the goal is twofold: “Support juniors, help families finance their careers, and expand the global base. Padel must become a global sport, and that can only happen through young people.”

In conclusion, he sums up his commitment: “Training future generations is the key to ensuring padel continues to grow. If we don't do it now, we risk slowing down the momentum of this sport. With the FIP Promises, this is a first step in the right direction.”

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.

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