Direction Miami, for an exclusive interview with one of the “alumni” of padel French, Nallé Grinda. The French who moved to the United States did not put his passion aside. On the contrary, it promotes it and is even associated with the first padel in the heart of Miami ...

  • Can you tell us first about your journey to Miami?

I left for Miami in 2010 after participating in my 5th and last World Championships in Cancun.

Before that, as you know, I was 5 times champion of France, individual semi-finalists with Belotti of the European Championships in pairs (only French pair to have beaten a Spanish pair in the quarterfinals), 1 both European team vice-champion and 4th in the world team championships.

In the USA I won the Miami tournament 4 times, the Real International Open 3 times Padel, 2 times the Miami Invitational (1 time with Silingo as partner and 1 time with Cristiano Guttierrez) and 2 times the international tournament in Houston.

Since 2014, I have been playing a lot less tournaments, but several times a year we have internal tournaments on our private courts in Miami in the winter and at the Hamptons in the summer with several top 20 players in the world. (The most assiduous are Capra, Juan Martin Diaz, Godo Diaz, Lebron, Moyano, etc.).

These games provide the opportunity for high bets that pay Pro players and also allow them to train hard between tournaments of the WPT.

  • You develop the padel   to USA ?

Since last year I participate through my company PADELM(www.padelm.com) the development of the largest club in Padel from the USA. The Wynwood Padel Club, 8 courts including 6 covered in the heart of Miami in the artistic district. Little by little, the craze is building up and the club is full in the early evening and on weekends.

In 2010, when I moved to the United States, there were few players and the level was still low. But in a few years, we have seen the level grow. Many tennis players have embarked on this sport as the player Guillermo Canas.

And in recent years with a few partners, we have been trying to set up PRO-AMs with professional players. The development of padel will go through private events. Now we have to manage to expand.

We try to bring 3 pros to 4 once a year also for clinics.

  • Do indoor courts, it was a necessity in Miami?

Yes because it protects against occasional rain and summer sun when the heat is stifling.

This year is a launch year for the club. We will offer exhibitions to find sponsors and clinics to initiate as many people as possible. The opening of a pro shop and a restaurant will also generate traffic. Finally, the first international tournament should take place next October.

  • Other clubs padel could see the light of day?

Yes, several clubs are in the pipeline. Just returned from the Golf and Snowshoe Sports convention in Orlando and the Padel has become over the days the number 1 attraction of the exhibition! On the last day we had an exhibition match with Paco Riveroll (No. 1 USA) against Martita Ortega and Seba Nerone who thrilled the visitors… as well as all the other exhibitors for other racket sports! (Platform tennis, Squash, Pickle ball, etc.)

  • In the USA, the padel takes an increasingly important place?

Little by little the bird makes its nest. We are still in the early stages. The clubs are mainly located in Florida, Texas, and a few private courts in New York and Los Angeles.

The situation is similar to that in France in 2013 before the FFT took over the padel. This would of course be ideal here too and the USTA is currently laying 2 pitches of padel in its brand new center in Lake Nona near Orlando with more than 100 tennis courts. It is a huge base.

Let's hope that the suite is as fast as in France!

Alexis Dutour

Alexis Dutour is passionate about padel. With his training in communication and marketing, he puts his skills at the service of padel to offer us articles that are always very interesting.

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