Since the early 1970s, padel has steadily gained a foothold among racket sports. Mexican Enrique Corcuera is credited with creating it. From then to today, many players have contributed to the sport's popularity.

Since the 1980s, professional padel has been gaining notoriety in Argentina. Among the pioneers, Alejandro Lasaigues quickly established himself. He began his career in 1987 alongside Horacio Alvarez Clementi, with whom he reached the number one spot in the world rankings in Argentina, a position they would maintain until 1991. Lasaigues continued his career alongside players like Alejandro Novillo and Jamie Serrano, but his greatest strength remained teaching padel at the highest level. Numerous champions have passed through his academy, including Fernando Belasteguin and Pablo Lima, world number 1 in 2018. In 1992, he joined forces with Roby Gattiker and won the most prestigious tournaments for five years, including a world championship in 1996. He ended his professional career alongside Herman Auguste for two years.

During the 1986-1987 season, Argentinian brothers Javier and Gustavo Maquirriain became the first duo to top the professional rankings. In 1988, the first Spanish-American Championship was held in Mar del Plata. The final pitted the Maquirriain brothers against Alejandro Lasaigues and Horacio Alvarez Clementi, both Argentinians. At the time, the Argentinian circuit was the only truly professional circuit, making its leaders the de facto world leaders. In 1, they began performing in Spain, where the sport was still emerging but growing rapidly.

From Corcuera to Coello: a look back at the legends who made padel famous

Among the historical figures, it's hard not to mention Fernando Belasteguin. He made his debut with Roby Gattiker during a tour of Spain. In 2000, alongside Guillermo Demianiuk, he formed one of the best duos of the moment. In 2001, he joined forces with Pablo Martinez Semprun, with whom he won five titles and reached world number two.

Male legends

Gabriel Reca and Hernán Auguste: emblematic figures
In 2007, Gaby Reca and Hernán Auguste joined forces, already world-renowned players. Reca, born in 1974 in Buenos Aires, had reached the top spot in 2001 with Sebastián Nerone. Auguste, for his part, had won several world titles, notably in 2000 with Juan Martín Díaz. Together, they won five tournaments (Seville, Logroño, Benicasim, Valencia, and Alicante) and reached a total of 14 finals.

Juan Martín Díaz / Fernando Belasteguin: the iconic duo
Unrivaled and legendary, Juan Martín Díaz and Fernando Belasteguin form one of the most influential duos in the history of padel. Their dominance between 2002 and 2014 was absolute: 170 titles won, 22 consecutive tournaments won, and an unbeaten run of one year and nine months. The center court at Miami Premier Padel now bears their name: “Juan Y Bela Court”.

The union between these two players was not based on friendship, but on ambition. It was Juan Martín who approached Bela, then a young prospect, to build a winning team. A successful gamble. Bela then continued his career with Pablo Lima, with whom he would win 36 more titles. To this day, he is the most decorated player in history.

From Corcuera to Coello: a look back at the legends who made padel famous

Alejandro Galán / Juan Lebrón: an eternal duo
Their spectacular play made an impression. Between 2020 and 2024, the Galán/Lebrón pair won 33 titles (27 in World Padel Tour, 6 en Premier Padel), including 14 in the 2022 season alone. But in 2024, their dynamic crumbled and the separation occurred after a controversy in Doha Premier Padel, where an altercation with Momo Yanguas puts an end to their collaboration.

Arturo Coello / Agustín Tapia: the future in their hands
Since their partnership, Tapia and Coello have been crushing everything in their path. With 27 wins in 45 tournaments, they have established themselves as the best current pairing. In just two years, they have almost matched the tallies of Galán/Lebrón (32 titles) and Bela/Lima (35 titles), while aiming for Bela/Díaz's record (155 titles).

The queens of the women's circuit

Iciar Montes / Neki Berwig
This duo is considered one of the greatest in the history of padel. Together, they won numerous titles and became world champions in 2002 after an impressive streak of 160 consecutive victories.

Carolina Navarro / Cecilia Reiter: a prestigious reign
Between 2010 and 2014, Navarro and Reiter dominated world padel. They won 24 titles, including the prestigious Master Final in 2012. That same year, they only lost one match. The following years saw the emergence of new rivals like the Alayeto twins and the Patty Llaguno/Eli Amatriain duo.

From Corcuera to Coello: a look back at the legends who made padel famous

Alejandra Salazar / Gemma Triay: imperial domination
With 23 titles on the World Padel TourSalazar and Triay are one of the most successful duos in the sport. Their 2022 season is exceptional, with 10 tournament wins.

The Alayeto twins: a family reign
Mapi and Majo Alayeto reigned supreme on the women's tour for several years, achieving four seasons at the top of the rankings and 32 titles in total. In 2021, Mapi was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. The twins overcame this challenge together and continue to play with admirable mental strength.

Paula Josemaría / Ariana Sánchez: modern legends
With 33 titles, they surpass the Alayeto twins' record. Their triumph at the Premier Padel Finland, followed by a victory in Malaga, confirms their current number 1 status.

A sport on the rise

Since 2020, padel has experienced exponential growth worldwide. In France, the momentum is strong: an increase in the number of licensed players, the growth of clubs, and the proliferation of tournaments. The French Tennis Federation has gradually structured this discipline, which appeals for its ease of access, its fun aspect, and its friendly atmosphere. In figures, this represents a 38% increase in courts, an 88% increase in the number of licensed players, and a doubling of the number of competitions in one year.

An important precision

This article doesn't claim to be exhaustive. Many other figures have left their mark on the history of padel. To avoid overburdening the story, we've chosen to focus on the most iconic figures, while respecting a chronological order.

On the same subject

Tags