Born almost by accident in an Acapulco garden, padel has in fifty years become a global phenomenon that both fascinates and worries tennis. Its meteoric rise is already reshaping the landscape of racket sports.
As federations struggle to reinvent themselves, private academies are capturing talent… but also families able to invest tens of thousands of euros a year. A system that is increasingly effective, but also increasingly unequal.
After Rakhimova and Timofeeva, it is Polina Kudermetova's turn to turn her back on Russia for Uzbekistan. A choice that Yevgeny Kafelnikov deems inconsequential for Russian tennis.
Anastasia Potapova's move to Austria did not fail to provoke reactions in Russia. Yevgeny Kafelnikov, a tennis legend and vice-president of the Federation, did not mince his words in commenting on this decision.
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