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.
Conceived as a bold bet to prepare for the post–Big 3 era, the Next Gen Masters has shaken up the codes of modern tennis. A pioneering, visionary tournament, but now in search of an identity.
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.