France, Paris, Roland Garros — the biggest recognition of padel in history
DOHA. How often have I heard that padel needs to go global in my work covering the sport? Probably a thousand times. But so far, it's just been words and promises. With today's announcement that Premier Padel will play at the venerable Roland Garros, words begin to turn into action. France, Paris, Roland Garros — here comes padel.
With today's news that Premier Padel will play a Major at Roland Garros this summer, the sport takes a big step towards going from being the small, cozy sport concentrated in Spain, Argentina out into the world.
The words heard for so long about globalizing and internationalizing the sport, from players to sponsors and other stakeholders in the sport today, went from just words to action.
The fact that padel will be played on the venerable tennis court where Grand Slams have been played since the opening in 1928 cannot be seen as anything other than the biggest recognition of padel in history.
”Extremely political situation”
This is done during an extremely political situation in padel. As I heard from a person, who has been involved in football before and is new to the sport: the politics of football are nothing against padel. Perhaps with a twinkle in the eye, but that is the situation now in this young sport.
Many want to access the money and be involved in the global journey that padel is making now but especially will make in the future.
And it's just the beginning of the war between the World Padel Tour on one side and the International Padel Federation and Professional Players Association on the other.
This week, the WPT issued an official statement claiming that the players will pay a total of €25 million in fines.
”Just the beginning”
The World Padel Tour will have even more headaches with this venue announcement. And those who think the conflict will end soon are wrong. This is just the beginning.
It now remains to be seen how the World Padel Tour responds to this. Probably there will be no answer at all, but they keep the same line as before. Silent towards the media and journalists regarding the conflict and claiming their right through money rather than maintaining a relationship with the players.
My question will be how motivated the players will be to play the WPT Alicante Open and Valladolid Masters, for example, when the Premier Padels, Paris Major, is waiting around the corner with better prize money, more professional arrangements, and above all: the sport's world tour shortly.
