Padel Pioneers - Influential Figures in Padel History Including Enrique Corcuera

Meet the Pioneers: Influential Figures in Padel’s History


From backyard courts to packed arenas – the pioneers who made padel what it is today.

The pioneers of padel range from its inventor, Enrique Corcuera in Acapulco in 1969, to promoters like Prince Alfonso of Hohenlohe and Julio Menditeguy, innovators such as Jorge Galeotti, and modern icons like Fernando Belasteguín, Juan Martín Díaz, Alejandra Salazar and Paquito Navarro. Together, they helped turn padel from a backyard game into one of the world’s fastest-growing sports.

Every sport has its legends. Padel has visionaries.

This article explores the influential figures in padel’s history — the inventors, promoters, builders, champions and ambassadors who shaped the sport you play today.

1. The Founders: Turning a Backyard into a Global Sport

Enrique Corcuera – The Inventor

In 1969, Enrique Corcuera turned his Acapulco backyard into the first ever padel court. With limited space for a traditional tennis court, he built a 20×10m walled playing area with a central net, where the ball could be played off the walls.

He didn’t call it innovation. He called it leisure. But that modest idea created the blueprint for modern padel.

His wife, Viviana Corcuera, wrote the first formal rules as a birthday gift. Between them, they transformed a family pastime into the foundations of a new racquet sport.

Prince Alfonso de Hohenlohe – The Promoter

A close friend of the Corcuera family, Prince Alfonso de Hohenlohe discovered padel at their home in Acapulco. Captivated by the game, he brought it back to Spain, building courts at the Marbella Club.

He added subtle design tweaks, a social club atmosphere and Mediterranean glamour, turning padel into a status sport for Spain’s elite. Without Alfonso, padel might never have reached Europe so quickly — or so stylishly.

Julio Menditeguy – The Builder

In Argentina, Julio Menditeguy became one of the sport’s early architects. He helped introduce padel to Buenos Aires and beyond, supporting a wave of club de padel construction that made Argentina one of the world’s strongest padel nations.

By focusing on court building and local infrastructure, he turned an imported idea into a deeply rooted national sport. Many of today’s Argentine champions grew up on courts shaped by that early movement.

2. Innovators & Organisers: Building the Framework

Jorge Galeotti – The Glass Court Pioneer

In 1989, Jorge Galeotti introduced the glass padel court, a detachable design that made it easier to ship and install courts worldwide. This innovation transformed padel from a local club sport into a professional spectator game.

Glass courts allowed fans to see every angle, broadcasters to film every rally, and tournament organisers to stage events in iconic venues. Without Galeotti’s design, padel’s global broadcast era would look very different.

The Founders of the International Padel Federation (FIP)

On 12 July 1991, representatives from Argentina, Spain and Uruguay founded the International Padel Federation (FIP) in Madrid. These administrators may not be household names, but they created the structure that legitimised padel as an international sport.

They organised the first World Padel Championships in 1992 (Madrid and Seville), unified the rules and started a process that would eventually lead to today’s 80+ national federations and growing conversations about future Olympic inclusion.

3. The First Professionals: Players Who Redefined the Game

Fernando Belasteguín – “Bela”, the Long-Reigning King

Fernando Belasteguín, known simply as Bela, is widely considered the greatest padel player of all time. He held the world number one ranking for an unprecedented 16 consecutive years, dominating eras, partners and formats.

Bela’s legacy extends beyond trophies: he redefined what it meant to be a professional padel athlete and helped inspire generations of players in Spain, Argentina and beyond.

Juan Martín Díaz – The Magician

Alongside Bela, Juan Martín Díaz became a symbol of technical brilliance and creativity. His reflexes at the net, impossible recoveries and offensive instincts reshaped how players think about attack, defence and transition.

Together, Bela and Díaz formed one of the most iconic pairings in padel history, raising the standard of play and turning professional matches into must-watch events.

Paquito Navarro – The Modern Showman

Paquito Navarro represents a newer generation of star — fiery, expressive and deeply connected with fans. His on-court emotion, shot-making and charisma made him one of the most recognisable faces on the World Padel Tour (WPT).

Navarro helped bridge the gap between padel’s traditional fan base and younger, social media–driven audiences. For many new players, Paquito was the first “modern” pro they followed.

4. The Women Who Led the Professional Era

Alejandra Salazar – Consistent Excellence

Alejandra Salazar has been a central figure in women’s professional padel for over a decade. Known for her intelligence, consistency and tactical awareness, Salazar has spent years at the top of the rankings.

Her success helped cement the visibility and importance of the women’s game, proving that padel’s tactical depth and athletic demands are just as compelling on the women’s tour.

Gemma Triay & the New Wave

Gemma Triay represents a newer wave of female stars, combining physical intensity with modern attacking play. Along with other top players, she has pushed the level of the women’s game higher every season.

The rise of women’s padel is one of the sport’s most important stories — and these pioneers ensure the next generation have icons to look up to.

5. Business & Tour Pioneers: Scaling Padel Globally

World Padel Tour – Building a Global Circuit

The creation of the World Padel Tour (WPT) in 2013 was a key milestone. It standardised professional competition, brought more structure to rankings and took the sport to iconic venues in Spain and beyond.

The organisers of WPT — working with brands, venues and media partners — helped professionalise padel’s commercial side and give players more visibility and stability.

Qatar Sports Investments & Premier Padel

More recently, Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) and Premier Padel have accelerated the sport’s global ambitions. With Nasser Al-Khelaifi as a key figure, Premier Padel has staged events in landmark arenas and expanded the tour to multiple continents.

This new era of investment has raised production standards, prize money and international exposure, creating new opportunities for players and federations worldwide.

6. Cultural Ambassadors: From Clubs to Celebrities

Rafa Nadal – The Champion Who Built Courts

Rafa Nadal may be most famous for tennis, but his academies and facilities have embraced padel, adding courts and helping introduce the sport to a new generation of racquet-sport fans.

David Beckham & Celebrity Advocates

Figures like David Beckham and other high-profile athletes and celebrities have been photographed playing padel or investing in venues. While they may not be technical pioneers, their participation has introduced padel to mainstream media and lifestyle audiences.

Local Club Founders & Coaches

Beyond the global names, thousands of local pioneers — club founders, coaches, league organisers — have built the grassroots foundations that sustain padel’s growth. From Nottingham to Madrid, Manchester to Malmö, these unsung heroes transform empty plots and industrial units into thriving padel communities.

7. Why These Pioneers Matter Today

The combined influence of these pioneers turned a backyard game into a global obsession. Their innovations in court design, governance, coaching and professional play now shape how millions of people experience the sport.

At Corcuera Padel Club, our mission is to honour that legacy — from Enrique and Viviana’s Acapulco court to today’s Premier Padel arenas — through apparel that respects heritage and celebrates modern club culture.

If you want to go deeper into the story behind these pioneers, explore:

Sources & Further Reading

FAQs – Pioneers & Legends of Padel

➕ Who invented padel?

Padel was invented in 1969 by Enrique Corcuera at his home in Acapulco, Mexico, where he built a small walled court and his wife Viviana wrote the first rules.

➕ Who are the main pioneers of padel?

The key pioneers include Enrique and Viviana Corcuera (founders), Prince Alfonso de Hohenlohe and Julio Menditeguy (promoters and builders), Jorge Galeotti (glass court innovator), early FIP founders, and professional icons such as Fernando Belasteguín, Juan Martín Díaz, Alejandra Salazar and Paquito Navarro.

➕ Who is considered the greatest padel player of all time?

Many people consider Fernando Belasteguín (“Bela”) the greatest padel player of all time, thanks to his record-breaking run of over 16 consecutive years as world number one.

➕ How did padel become a global sport?

Padel grew from Acapulco to Spain and Argentina through early promoters, then expanded globally via national federations, the International Padel Federation (FIP), professional tours like WPT, APT and Premier Padel, and investment from organisations such as Qatar Sports Investments.

➕ Are there important pioneers in women’s padel?

Yes. Players such as Alejandra Salazar and Gemma Triay have been central to the rise of women’s padel, driving performance standards and visibility on the professional tour.

➕ Where can I learn more about padel history?

For a full timeline and deeper context, visit our History of Padel page and the FIP official history.

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