Eliminated in the round of 32 of the  Pretoria P1  with his compatriot  Luan Krige  facing the Spaniards  William Collado  et  Pol Hernandez  (6/1 6/2),  Richard Ashforth  Nevertheless, he made a lasting impression. Thanks to his ball control, his game sense, and his unique style, the South African captivated the Pretoria crowd. In an interview given to  Padel Passion ZA He looks back on a rather unique journey, which led him from tennis to squash, before falling in love… with a sport he had refused to try.

 High-level tennis in the United States 

Before making a name for himself on the padel courts, Richard Ashforth built a solid career in tennis.

With a racket in hand from the age of three, he competed in South African national tournaments for about ten years, reaching the  Top 5 or Top 6  of his generation while regularly establishing himself as one of the best doubles players in the country.

This progress opened doors for him in the United States thanks to a university scholarship.

«  I was an All-American during my four years of college. I was number one on my team from my first season and I still hold the record for wins.  »

With his diploma in hand, he tried his hand at a professional adventure in 2017. A short-lived experience.

"The financing was complicated and the individual aspect of tennis no longer really suited me."

 The unexpected detour via squash 

After two years as a tennis coach in the United States, Ashforth returned to South Africa just before the Covid-19 pandemic. Stuck there, he decided to hang up his tennis racket for good.

«  I haven't touched a tennis racket since 2019.  »

Looking for a new sporting challenge, he discovered squash, almost by chance.

As a self-taught player, he progressed rapidly until he was playing in the first division in Durban.

"I knew I would never be the best, but I loved the competition, the physical challenge, and above all, the team spirit."

Richard Ashforth, the charming asset of South African padel: "I used to think this sport was ridiculous... today, it's my passion."

 "I used to think padel was a completely silly sport." 

The real turning point comes in 2023.

His father, then president of his golf club, suggested he try the new padel courts that had just been opened.

The response is immediate.

«  I told him, “No way, it seems like a really stupid sport.”  »

However, he finally gave in on the day of the official inauguration.

In the pouring rain, he played for two hours with a friend and immediately surprised all the participants.

"Not to brag, but I beat everyone quite easily."

The most surprising thing is what followed: despite this initial success, he did not play again for almost three months.

 A meeting that changes everything 

He is, in the end, a friend from Johannesburg.  Christo Pogiter which revives the story.

Convinced he is already better than him, Ashforth accepts a challenge… before being invited to represent Johannesburg in the competition  North vs South .

"I arrived wearing... my hockey shoes. That's how it all started."

Shortly afterwards, he received an offer to join  10 to 20  as a coach in Johannesburg.

Since then, he has been living his passion to the fullest.

«  Today, I rent an apartment, I play padel professionally and it's what I love most in my life.  »

Richard Ashforth, the charming asset of South African padel: "I used to think this sport was ridiculous... today, it's my passion."

 Why padel has definitively won him over 

For the former tennis player, the biggest difference lies in the collective aspect.

In tennis, he explains, every defeat is solely your own fault. In padel, the presence of a partner completely changes the dynamic.

"At a high level, you can't spend your time blaming your partner for mistakes. Everyone must first question themselves."

But beyond that aspect, it is above all the pleasure of playing that makes all the difference.

«  Padel is the most fun sport in the world.  »

He believes that this conviviality largely explains the explosion of the discipline.

“Amateurs play in a more relaxed way. In tennis, some have been playing against the same friend for thirty years… and still want to beat him at all costs!” he jokes.

 A player to watch in South Africa 

Although he failed to pull off the feat against  William Collado  et  Pol Hernandez  In Pretoria, Richard Ashforth took advantage of this first appearance in a tournament  Premier Padel  at home to attract attention.

His ball control, his anticipation, and his unconventional career path make him one of the most endearing figures in South African padel. Through his story, he also embodies the rise of a sport that continues to attract former athletes from very different backgrounds.

Maceo ZERHAT

Maceo Zerhat discovered padel in 2020 in Savigny-sur-Clairis, Burgundy. He contributed to the club's expansion by bringing his energy and curiosity. Padel Magazinehe transmits his Padel"mania" by skillfully bouncing on all the latest news about your favorite sport!

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