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.
On the court in Bologna, the emotion was palpable. Djokovic, Troicki, Becker, and Ljubicic joined their voices to honor the memory of Nikola Pilic, the man who shaped their careers and marked the history of European tennis.
Latest video
Top 5 Thursday 18
