Even Novak Djokovic can't resist padel!

We regularly hear it said that the paddle is a threat to the tennisAt Wimbledon, Novak Djokovic himself did not hesitate to sound the alarm: "Tennis must adapt and reinvent itself if it wants to attract a young audience," he explained, highlighting the example of the Formula 1 and its well-oiled marketing that attracts an ever-widening audience. And yet, even Novak, the alert launched, cannot escape the phenomenon.

The Serbian champion, who has never stopped stressing that tennis is in danger compared to sports like padel, seems to have forgotten his own predictions… or perhaps he has simply succumbed to temptation. In fact, Novak Djokovic was seen on the courts of Premier Padel x Qatar Airways in Doha, in an atmosphere very different from its classic tennis matches.

It was not just a training session, but an exhibition match where he shared the racket with Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, GCEO of Qatar Airways, as well as the President of Premier Padel, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi. The event took place just before the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Qatar, adding a touch of glamour and sportiness to the day.

So what do we take away from this? Is Novak Djokovic starting to be seduced by the growing popularity of padel ? He is not the first nor the last to indulge in it, and with such stars from all walks of life embarking on the adventure, we say to ourselves that perhaps padel could well go beyond simple fashion to establish itself as a real sporting phenomenon.

Novak Djokovic: “Tennis clubs in danger… they will be converted to padel or pickleball”

In any case, it is no coincidence that the former world number 1 decided to try out this sport that is on the rise. After all, even Djokovic, who warns of the erosion of tennis, seems incapable of resisting the craze he arouses. Who knows? Maybe one day, we will find him on a tennis court paddle instead of the tennis one… But not right away, don’t worry.

For now, it remains above all a Qatar Airways Global Ambassador, and a tennis legend. But his time on the padel courts shows that even the greatest cannot ignore the irresistible attraction of the racket sport that is booming!

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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