Meet the Pioneers: Influential Figures in Padel’s History
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Every sport has its legends. Padel has visionaries.
Enrique Corcuera – The Inventor
In 1969, Corcuera turned his Acapulco backyard into the first-ever padel court. He didn’t call it innovation. He called it leisure. But he changed sport forever.
Prince Alfonso de Hohenlohe – The Promoter
A friend of Corcuera’s and a Marbella socialite, he brought padel to Spain. He added tweaks, glamour, and turned the sport into a status symbol on the Mediterranean.
Julio Menditengui – The Builder
A key figure in Argentina’s padel boom. Helped spread the sport to South America and developed the first padel-specific manufacturing lines.
Today’s Ambassadors
From Rafa Nadal to celebrities like Beckham, padel is supported by a new wave of advocates helping to push the game into global culture.
Their combined influence turned a backyard game into a global obsession — and we’re here to honour that legacy.
