Padel is a sport that is growing rapidly throughout the world, particularly thanks to the spread of the circuit Premier Padel and the increase in the number of fields and complexes built. Already a major sport in Spain and Argentina, padel is developing every year in new territories such as the USA or France, where major events contribute to its popularity. This fun sport, practiced in doubles, also attracts the attention of many celebrities.

Athletes

Padel not only attracts the general public, but also many professional athletes. Among them, footballers are particularly numerous in adopting this practice. Neymar, Messi, Beckham, Pogba, recently seen in a video ofArturo Coello in Miami, as well as Didier Deschamps, Zinedine Zidane et Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who have even opened padel centers, are perfect examples of this.

Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, recently posted a video on his YouTube channel, followed by 73,3 million subscribers, in which he faces world number 1, Arturo Coello, during a friendly match.

The stars of the American basketball league (NBA) are also adopting padel, particularly thanks to its growing development on the other side of the Atlantic. The arrival of the circuit Premier Padel in Miami in 2025 and the presence of iconic players, such as Arturo Coello, a reference and star of the professional circuit, who recently moved to Florida, contributes to this popularity.

Jimmy Butler, star of the NBA and player of Miami Heat, has recently appeared alongside the world number 1. He is actively involved in the promotion and development of padel, thus reinforcing the enthusiasm around this sport in the United States.

Tennis players: from one racket to another

Le tennis, long considered the most followed and publicized racket sport, sees a newcomer quickly gaining popularity: padel. This sport, often described as a mix between tennis and squash, attracts many tennis players, accustomed to handling a racket, who come to try their luck on the padel courts.

Whether retired or still active, several tennis stars have tried and adopted this sport. The Swiss legend Roger Federer shared on social media a picture of himself with a tennis racket tennis padel in hand. The other two members of the “Big Three”, Novak Djokovic et Rafael Nadal, have also tested this discipline.

On the French side, many players have taken up the challenge, such as Benoît Pair, Jules Mary who have both participated in approved tournaments, or Jo-Wilfried Tsonga et Thierry ascione (with among others Anthony Lopez, the former football goalkeeper of Olympique Lyonnais and Johan Bergeron), who launched several padel centers under the brand “ALL IN" in France.

Otherwise, Arnaud Di Pasquale, former 39th world player, led the padel mission at the French Tennis Federation. He even became French champion in the +45 age category, alongside another former tennis player, Arnaud Clement.

Celebrities

  • Gerard Butler : The 55-year-old Scottish actor has incorporated padel into his fitness and sports routine. For him, padel is an opportunity to have fun while staying active.
  • Enrique Iglesias : The Spanish singer and actor, married to former professional tennis player Anna Kournikova, is a great defender of padel and regularly participates in events dedicated to this sport.
  • Shakira : The Colombian singer also tried the padel court, adding to the list of celebrities seduced by this discipline.

Other notable figures include Hollywood actor Antonio Banderas et Pippa Middleton, the sister of the Princess of Wales, Catherine Middleton.

You will have understood and probably seen somewhere, celebrities, whether they are athletes of various disciplines or Hollywood stars, are numerous to have adopted padel, both as a sport to practice and as an investment sector. And this list of public figures continues to grow…

Nicolas Fillaudeau

A big sports enthusiast and former tennis player, I discovered padel a few years ago without really focusing on it. Then I became addicted to this sport by practicing it and watching the premier padel matches. Looking forward to sharing the 2025 news with you!

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