| New York City is no stranger to sporting revolutions. The city has always embraced new sports, from tennis in Forest Hills to the basketball courts of Harlem. Now, it’s the turn of padel to capture the city’s heart as the first-ever US Open Padel Championships descends on Brooklyn this weekend. |
| Padel, widely considered the world’s fastest-growing sport and recently secured its position as the second most popular sport in Spain, is on the cusp of following in pickleball’s footsteps and breaking through in the US. |
| The Early Days of Padel in NYC |
| Padel’s emergence in New York City can largely be put down to the vision of one man: Santiago Gomez. Described as “the man who brought padel to New York City”, former restaurateur Gomez, came up with the idea to bring padel to the Big Apple during the global Covid pandemic when, in playing the sport back in his native Mexico, he decided that with the restaurant industry encountering challenging times due to the pandemic, it was time to bring padel to New York. Returning to the city in 2021, Gomez turned his vision into reality, opening Padel Haus’ doors in Williamsburg. |
| Gomez: From Fine Dining to Padel Pioneer |
| Gomez made his mark in New York’s culinary world before turning his attention to padel. A former investment banker for UBS, the Mexican entrepreneur co-founded Cosme. This award-winning Mexican restaurant earned accolades, including the New York Times Restaurant of the Year title and a place on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. |
| “When I first moved to New York, there were no padel courts,” says Gomez. “I had to travel to Spain and Mexico to play. But as the sport grew internationally, I knew it was only a matter of time before New Yorkers would embrace it.” |
| His vision was to create a club dedicated entirely to padel, combining his background in hospitality with his passion for the sport. And so, Padel Haus was born as a padel and wellness facility befitting Brooklyn’s lifestyle-focused community. |
| Padel Haus: The Heart of New York’s Padel Scene |
| Before long, Padel Haus Williamsburg was joined by a neighboring outdoor location on the Banks of the East River. Domino Park, as it has become known, is Padel Haus’ summer season offering, just steps from its flagship Kent Avenue club. |
| Whilst Padel Haus had accelerated its dominance of Brooklyn’s padel scene with the opening of the spectacular Padel Haus Dumbo (where this week’s US Open will be staged), there are now clubs opening across other boroughs of the city, and into the neighboring states of New Jersey and Connecticut. |
| The Future of Padel in New York |
| The future of the sport in the city looks bright, as proven by Padel Haus’ decision to open its third permanent New York venue, in Greenpoint later this year. |
| As Gomez explains, the sport’s rise is just beginning. “With more clubs opening and major tournaments coming to New York, padel is only going to get bigger. We’re excited about what’s to come.” |
| And so, padel’s momentum in New York shows no signs of abating. This weekend, from October 4-6, the US Open Padel Championships will make its debut, with Padel Haus Dumbo stepping in as host venue. The prestigious tournament will draw talent from across the globe, further cementing New York as an emerging destination for padel in the United States. |
| For more information on the US Open Padel Championships and for information on how to attend, please contact ben@padel22.com or follow the event on US Open Padel Championships’ Instagram channel for live updates. |
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Former U.S. Davis Cupper Jared Palmer Among Five Padel Stars To Watch At Inaugural US Open Padel Championships In New York
Five Padel Stars to Watch at the Inaugural US Open Padel Championships in New York
New York, NY — The much-anticipated US Open Padel Championships are set to kick off on Friday, October 4th, at Padel Haus Dumbo, Brooklyn’s premier padel facility. Featuring a star-studded lineup, the tournament will host some of the most accomplished names in padel, bringing world-class competition to New York City.
From former Grand Slam-winning United States tennis champions to some of the top-ranked padel players in the world, here are five stars to watch at the inaugural US Open Padel Championships:
- Jared Palmer is a multiple Grand Slam-winning tennis player who has transitioned to padel. Palmer has already won a US Open—the mixed doubles in 2000 at Flushing Meadows. Palmer has also represented the US National Team at the FIP Senior World Championships on multiple occasions and now resides in Sweden, where he first started playing padel. His elite experience in racket sports and tactical acumen will make him and his partner, Henry Gill, formidable competitors.
- Brittany Dubins is the number one ranked American player and has been a force to be reckoned with on the Nox USPA Circuit. She has won four titles this year and is undefeated on the circuit. Dubins was also undefeated playing for the US National Team this year, helping them qualify for the FIP World Championships later in the season. She enters the tournament alongside the equally impressive Carla Rodriguez Sanchez with the aim of adding the US Open title to their impressive season.
- Luis Estrada and Nico Agritelly have multiple victories on the US padel circuit and are well known for their consistently strong performances. Estrada and Agritelly are both former number one ranked players in the USA and have experience in the PPL as well as on international circuits. Their technical ability and mental toughness will make them tough to beat in the US Open.
- Jose Carlos Gaspar Campos: Known for his speed and precision, Gaspar Campos has been making waves on the international padel circuit. Hailing from Spain, Campos has won three USPA tournaments this year, including the first-ever Las Vegas Open Men’s title. He lines up alongside Las Vegas Smash Coach Juan Manuel Vazquez (Guga) and will be among the favorites to win the inaugural US Open Padel Championship.
- Anna Cortilles is part of the Cancun Waves PPL team and is thought to be one of the most exciting rising stars in women’s padel. Cortilles is known for her aggressive playstyle and athleticism. The Spanish-born player has already proven herself at multiple European competitions and is now bringing her talents to the US Open. Cortilles and her partner Luicelana Perez from Venezuela will be key contenders for the women’s title.
The first-ever US Open Padel Championships is poised to be a landmark event for the sport in the USA, featuring a feast of international talent – the tournament will boast representation from 15 different nations.
The tournament, organized by the US Padel Association (USPA), will be the fourth and final Major of the 2024 Nox USPA Circuit. Players will compete for a $15,000 prize pool, equally split between the men’s and women’s divisions.
The Pro Padel League (PPL), is the title sponsor of the championships alongside the host sponsor, Padel Haus. Matches will take place at their flagship Dumbo location in Brooklyn, New York City. The combination of PPL, Padel Haus and the USPA will ensure this is a fantastic event for the players and spectators.
For more information on the US Open Padel Championships or how to attend visit USA Padel and follow US Open Padel on Instagram for updates on the tournament.
If interested in a great padel experience in Vero Beach, Florida, this condo is for rent (and soon for sale) here: https://www.airbnb.com/hosting/listings/editor/37823857/details/photo-tour next to the Vero Beach Tennis & Padel Club. Further inquiries can be made to Rwalker@NewChapterMedia.com
About the United States Padel Association: The USPA is the national governing body for padel in the USA, as determined by FIP and the APF. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the USPA is dedicated to promoting and developing padel in the United States. Through organizing tournaments, certifying referees, selecting and sending national teams, and fostering player development, the USPA aims to elevate the sport’s profile nationwide and support its members in growing padel at every level.
About Pro Padel League: The Pro Padel League is North America’s premier professional padel league, bringing together world-class athletes and fans to celebrate the fast-growing sport of padel. With its 2024 season distributed to over 300 million households globally, it is one of the fastest-growing sports leagues in the world.
About Padel Haus
Padel Haus is one of the leading premium padel operators, providing world-class padel-dedicated facilities across multiple locations in the USA. Padel Haus is known for its commitment to excellence, community engagement and promoting a healthy and active lifestyle through padel.
Building Flexibility: Temporary Padel Tennis Court Construction
Padel tennis is a sport that is rapidly gaining popularity globally. This has resulted in innovative and creative solutions for facilities to meet this growth in demand. To cater for this rise in popularity, one of the newest trends is the increased use of temporary padel tennis courts.
This article explores why sports clubs and other organisations opt for temporary padel tennis court construction.
What is padel tennis?
Padel tennis is a racquet sport whose origin can be traced back to the 1960s in Mexico. The sport brings together elements of squash and tennis. The sport is played on an enclosed court roughly a third of the size of the tennis court and comprises of walls and a mesh enclosure. Thus, the construction of the court has to be very specific. More and more people are embracing the game, especially in South America and Europe, where people have taken it up as both a social and a competitive activity.
Why the rise of temporary padel tennis court construction?
Below are some of the reasons that have fuelled the increase in the use of temporary structures as padel tennis courts:
Flexibility
Padel tennis is a sport that differs from many sports because it can be easily adapted to different spaces. This makes temporary padel tennis court construction a feasible solution. And with the quick courts requiring less investment and time to put up, they are a dynamic solution to providing suitable facilities for the sport.
The construction of temporary padel tennis courts is also a good option because they can be erected quickly and dismantled pretty fast without any damage, helping to cater to various needs. Thanks to the flexibility of temporary courts, opportunities for sports clubs, urban spaces, and other sports entities to access temporary sports facilities or setups have opened up.
If your sports club is looking for a high-quality temporary padel tennis court, you can contact Smart-Space, the leading temporary structures supplier in the UK, and order a tailored solution for your needs.
Cost-effective
Temporary padel tennis court construction is far more cost-effective than building a permanent structure for the sport. Because of the modular nature of the temporary courts, there is a significant reduction in the construction and maintenance costs.
Also, temporary courts are often the best option for those who don’t own their own land and rely on using public spaces or leasing grounds for a short time. Sports clubs and other fraternities who only want to host padel tennis competitions or social sporting activities for a season or short periods can use the temporary courts without having to invest heavily in permanent structures for a short period.
High-quality and great designs
Although some people imagine weak and low-quality structures when they hear about temporary buildings, the truth is that temporary padel court construction leverages high-quality, lightweight materials that are prefabricated into panels and other parts. The top-quality materials ensure the structures are durable and robust yet easy to assemble and dismantle. The structures are also made of great designs, employing the best techniques.
Eco-friendly
For environmentally-conscious sports clubs, temporary padel tennis court construction is a good idea because it does not involve heavy machinery, extensive excavation, or other issues that mess with the environment. In addition, the construction of temporary padel tennis courts uses materials that do not cause over-exploitation of non-renewable natural resources.
Portability and scalability
Temporary padel tennis court construction is the best option for sports clubs and associations that would like to move their courts to different places constantly. The temporary courts can also quickly expand to form single, double, or multiple courts.
Conclusion
Constructing temporary padel tennis courts benefits sports clubs who need them. Their benefits include cost-effectiveness, flexibility, portability, scalability, and high-quality, durable structures.
What are the Major Differences Between Padel and Tennis?
A lot of people claim that they never heard of padel until they look at the sport more closely. The similarity between padel and tennis is so lifelike that you cannot notice the difference at first glance.
However, aside from padel rules being different from those of tennis, there are quite a few differences that only those that have played both sports know all too well.
To normal people both sports look much alike because there’s a court, rackets, tennis balls and even a net so they must be the same right? On the contrary, in fact. Padel and tennis are quite different so here are a few major differences that set them apart.
Court size differences
Padel court is about a third of a tennis court smaller. Tennis court is 23.77m (77.98ft) long and 8.23m (27ft) wide, whereas the padel court is 20 meters (65ft) long and 10 meters (32ft) wide.
However, playing singles in tennis allows you to maneuver outside the boundaries whereas there are four walls surrounding the padel court which further shortens the effective playing area. That’s why even though the padel court isn’t that shorter than a tennis court when it comes to dimensions, the playing area makes it much smaller.
Racket differences
A tennis racket has a longer handle and stringed core that allows tennis players to use power shots to clear the net.
On the other hand, a padel racket has a shorter handle and a core made of foam that has a fiberglass or carbon fiber outer shell to dampen the power of a shot and allow more control of the ball in confined space. It’s impossible to use a tennis racket for padel and vice versa. .
Ball differences
Tennis balls and padel balls look exactly alike. They are both manufactured the same and even use the same rubber mold. It’s impossible to tell the difference until you play both sports. The fact of the matter is that padel balls have less bounce than tennis balls because the pressure used to inflate padel balls is different than with tennis balls. That’s why padel balls lose velocity when bouncing off the walls.
Closing Words
Although they look much alike, tennis and padel are completely different sports. Tennis was originally intended for singles while padel is played in doubles. A lot of differences set these two sports apart no matter how much they might seem the same to the eye of the beholder.
